Chicago Bears Leaving Illinois — Moving to Hammond, Indiana After 106 Years

After 106 years in Illinois, the Chicago Bears are heading to Indiana.

In a stunning announcement that sent shockwaves through both the NFL and the city of Chicago, the Bears' Board of Directors voted Thursday to officially advance plans for a new stadium development in Hammond, Indiana — and the team made it public Friday morning, June 5, 2026. According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, while the vote is not technically the final word, a league source said plainly: "Barring anything very strange, it's a done deal."

The move ends one of the most drawn-out stadium sagas in NFL history — and signals a genuinely historic departure. The Chicago Bears have been an Illinois franchise since 1920. They will now build their future in the neighboring state of Indiana.

The Official Statement From the Bears

The announcement came in a joint statement from Bears Chairman George H. McCaskey and President and CEO Kevin Warren.

"Yesterday, the Chicago Bears Board of Directors met and voted to advance our stadium development project in Hammond, Indiana, with the exact site to be selected," the statement read. "We believe a world-class stadium project in Hammond will transform the region, connecting Northwest Indiana to the South Side of Chicago through the Loop and across neighborhoods and suburbs stretching north of the city. It will bring Chicagoland together and deliver new opportunities to its residents and businesses."

The Bears have committed $2 billion of their own money to the stadium project. The precise site within Hammond is still to be determined, with the Wolf Lake property area the leading option, according to the Chicago Sun-Times.

Why Indiana? Illinois Failed to Act

The decision to move across the state line didn't happen overnight — it was the result of years of failed negotiations, political dysfunction, and ultimately, Indiana stepping in with a deal Illinois could not match.

The Bears have been searching for a new home since 2021, when they purchased a 326-acre plot of land in Arlington Heights, Illinois — a Chicago suburb — with the intention of building a stadium there. The plan required the Illinois state government to provide property tax certainty for the site. Lawmakers debated it for years. They never delivered.

In the final dramatic hours of the Illinois General Assembly's spring session, legislators made one last attempt. The Illinois Senate voted 37-17 early Monday morning for a bill that would allow municipalities of a certain size to establish stadium authorities capable of owning and financing professional sports stadiums. Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson celebrated, posting on social media that "Chicago is back in the game."

It wasn't enough. Approximately 42 hours later, the Bears voted to go to Hammond.

Indiana, meanwhile, had been aggressively courting the franchise for months. State lawmakers passed a framework earlier in 2026 that authorized a stadium authority backed by taxes on admissions, hotels, restaurants, and tolls — providing up to $1 billion in public incentives and infrastructure support for a major development near the Illinois border.

Hammond is roughly half an hour by car from Soldier Field, the Bears' current home on Chicago's lakefront.

Indiana's Reaction: "Welcome Home"

Indiana Governor Mike Braun was effusive in his welcome, posting on social media immediately after the announcement broke.

"We look forward to building a partnership as strong as the '85 Bears defense, creating opportunities and economic growth that will benefit our state and the Bears organization for decades to come," Braun wrote. "An NFL franchise in Northwest Indiana will be an economic boost to the entire region like we haven't seen before. Thank you to Speaker Huston, the legislature, and Mayor McDermott for their partnership."

Hammond Mayor Thomas McDermott also released a statement, calling the Bears' choice a validation of the region's vision and economic potential.

Chicago's Response: Hoping It Isn't Over

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson's office put out a notably defiant statement after the Indiana announcement, refusing to accept the situation as final.

"Over the last several years the Bears have stated their intentions in multiple jurisdictions — today's announcement is not surprising," the statement read. "It's also not surprising that Bears officials have stated this vote does not mean a move to Hammond is a done deal. Without a final site selection, until we see shovels in the ground, Chicago will continue to make our case."

A league source did confirm to the Chicago Sun-Times that Arlington Heights is not entirely off the table — if Illinois were somehow to find a path to deliver property tax certainty on the Bears' 326-acre site before this fall's legislative session, the picture could theoretically change. But most observers view that scenario as extremely unlikely.

Illinois Governor JB Pritzker had previously expressed concern about spending public money on a stadium while residents were struggling with affordability pressures. That reluctance, combined with the legislature's inability to pass a workable bill, ultimately opened the door for Indiana to walk through.

What This Means for the NFL Landscape

The Bears moving to Hammond would be one of the most significant franchise relocations in NFL history — not because it involves crossing the country like the Raiders moving to Las Vegas or the Rams to Los Angeles, but because of what it represents culturally. The Chicago Bears are one of the most storied franchises in football. They are charter members of the NFL, founded in 1920. George Halas — Papa Bear himself — built the league alongside the franchise. The McCaskey family, direct descendants of Halas, still owns the team today.

For that franchise to leave the city of Chicago after 106 years would be seismic. And yet, here we are.

The Bears have committed $2 billion of their own capital. Indiana is putting up $1 billion in incentives. The political path in Illinois has collapsed. The vote has been cast.

Barring something very strange, the Chicago Bears are going to Indiana.

What About the Team on the Field?

All of this drama is happening against the backdrop of genuine excitement about the Bears as a football team. Under first-year head coach Ben Johnson in 2025, Chicago went 11-6, won the NFC North title for the first time since 2018, and advanced to the Divisional Round of the NFL playoffs. Quarterback Caleb Williams — the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 draft and now the cover athlete of Madden NFL 27 — threw for 3,943 yards in his first season under Johnson's scheme.

The 2026 Bears are expected to be even better. Williams is entering his third season with growing familiarity in the offense, the offensive line has been strengthened, and the team added key pieces in the 2026 draft including defensive back Dillon Thieneman and offensive lineman Logan Jones.

Chicago is a legitimate Super Bowl contender. They just might be playing home games in Indiana by the time they get there.

Key Takeaways

• The Chicago Bears' Board of Directors voted Thursday, June 5 to advance stadium plans in Hammond, Indiana — ending their 106-year presence in Illinois
• The decision followed the Illinois General Assembly adjourning its spring session without passing stadium financing legislation
• Indiana had already approved a framework offering up to $1 billion in public incentives for a Bears stadium near the Illinois border
• The Bears have committed $2 billion of their own money to the project; the exact site in Hammond is still to be selected
• Adam Schefter reports: "Barring anything very strange, it's a done deal"
• Indiana Gov. Mike Braun and Hammond Mayor McDermott welcomed the Bears enthusiastically
• Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson's office said the city is "not giving up" — but options are extremely limited
• On the field, the Bears went 11-6 in 2025 and are a legitimate Super Bowl contender in 2026 under Caleb Williams and coach Ben Johnson