The Chicago Bears are staying put in name, no matter where they end up playing. Chairman George McCaskey put an end to speculation this week, confirming that the franchise will not rebrand even if it crosses state lines.
"No. We will be the Chicago Bears whether we’ll be in Arlington (Heights) or in Hammond," McCaskey said during a press conference. The team is weighing options for a new stadium, with Hammond, Indiana, emerging as a serious contender alongside Arlington Heights, Illinois.
The move would end a century-long association with Chicago’s Soldier Field, a reality McCaskey acknowledged is tough for fans to swallow. "Yeah, we feel that anxiety. We feel that stress," he said. "It’s going to require an adjustment. But when I’ve driven that route, other than a sign telling me so, I wouldn’t know that I’ve just crossed the state border."
McCaskey emphasized that once fans experience the new facility, they’ll come around. "As Kevin said, once people see the building, once they get in there, once they understand that our top priority from day one was a world-class stadium experience, we think we’ll make that adjustment. We think Bears fans are up for that."
Fans Already Have a New Name in Mind
Despite McCaskey’s stance, the internet is already having its say. Social media erupted with suggestions that the team will inevitably be dubbed the "Indiana Bears" or even the "South Indiana Cubs." One fan wrote, "He can say that, everyone that’s not a Chicago Bears fan will now refer to them as Hammond Bears or South Indiana Cubs." Another added, "The whole NFC north will call you the Indiana bears when the move happens anyways."
History, however, offers some reassurance. The New York Jets and Giants have played in New Jersey for decades, yet they remain the "New York" Jets and Giants in the public consciousness. As one observer noted, "The whole ‘Indiana Bears’ thing probably won’t stick anyway."
For now, the Bears’ relocation saga continues to unfold, with the team likely to make a final decision in the coming months. Regardless of the outcome, one thing seems certain: the name on the front of the jerseys isn’t going anywhere.
