Chicago Bears: Roger Goodell meets with Illinois lawmakers amid Chicago talk

Chicago Bears chairman George McCaskey and CEO/president Kevin Warren offered a big nothingburger during their news conferences on Thursday.

The Bears are putting their “sole focus” on Hammond, Indiana, as no deal has been signed with Illinois. On Thursday, Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker mentioned that he’s been in talks with the Bears and would like to keep the team in Chicago or Arlington Heights.

NFL commissioner Rodger Goodell, who hopes the Bears finalize a deal for a new stadium sooner rather than later, is getting more involved in the process.

Per Shia Kapos of Politico, Goodell met with a few Illinois lawmakers on Thursday.

“Bears Chatter: NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell continues to be involved in discussions about where the Bears might relocate,” Kapos posted on X. “A source familiar told me a few select Illinois lawmakers met with Goodell on Thursday.”

More News: Bears’ Kevin Warren slips up on disappointment with Indiana move

Chicago Bears are still in talks with Illinois

More News:  Gov JB Pritzker working with team on Chicago plan

The push for Illinois comes amid Chicago mayor Brandon Johnson holding out hope that the Bears will remain in the “Windy City.”

“The Bears belong in Chicago,” Johnson posted on X on Thursday. “Ours is still the best, and only, plan for a publicly-owned stadium that enables them to stay on the most-visited stretch of land in all of Illinois.”

Earlier this year, the NFL stadium committee suggested that only the sites at Arlington Heights or Hammond were viable options for the Bears. However, the team communicated with Chicago, and the idea of the Bears remaining in the city doesn’t seem dead yet, though it remains on life support for the time being.

It’s unclear if Goodell is entertaining any possibility of the Bears staying in Chicago when he met with lawmakers. Given the size of the voting pool from Chicago in the Illinois General Assembly, the situation must be dealt with delicately if the Bears are to remain in the state.

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