A new era is coming for the Chicago Bears and fans are over the moon about it. The Athletic’s Dan Pompei is reporting Bears president and CEO Ted Phillips will retire following the 2022 NFL season. Phillips has been with the organization since 1983, working his way up to become president and CEO in 1999 and has held that title ever since.
BREAKING: Bears president/CEO Ted Phillips retiring at the end of the 2022 season. My exclusive story for @theathletic here. https://t.co/PUujAz6Vln
— Dan Pompei (@danpompei) September 2, 2022
According to Pompei, Phillips made the decision to retire last fall, citing the COVID-19 pandemic made him reflect on his life and priorities. The 65-year old will stay on until February, 2023.
Under Phillips, the Bears haven’t had the sustained success they were once used to seeing back in the 1980s. Since 1999, they have made the postseason just six times, winning three playoff games and no Super Bowl championships. From a business standpoint, however, Phillips made his mark by overseeing the renovations at Soldier Field in the early 2000s. The major knock against him, however, is that his business background didn’t lend itself to making football decisions as the team president. That was already being adjusted after yet another disappointing season led to the firings of Ryan Pace and Matt Nagy earlier this year.
Phillips’ role had changed this past offseason when chairman George McCaskey announced new general manager Ryan Poles would report to him and not the team president. Now, the front office will see even more of a shakeup come February.
The news of Phillips’ impending retirement sent shockwaves on social media, but Bears fans appear to be united in their happiness as real change is finally coming to Halas Hall.