Report: Big Ten commissioner Warren among top candidates for Bears president

Big Ten commissioner Kevin Warren is considered one of the top candidates to be the next president of the Chicago Bears, reports ESPN's Pete Thamel.

The team views Warren as a strong enough candidate that his interview took place in person, sources told Thamel.

Current Bears president and CEO Ted Phillips is set to retire after 39 years with the team. Chicago has been searching for a replacement since the summer.

Warren has led the Big Ten since 2020. He helped attract USC and UCLA to the conference and helped broker a new television deal valued at over $7 billion.

The 59-year-old spent 15 years working with the Minnesota Vikings before taking over as Big Ten commissioner. He spent the final five of those as the Vikings' chief operating officer, playing a role in U.S. Bank Stadium's creation.

The Bears purchased 326 acres of land in Arlington Heights earlier in 2022 and are likely approaching a new stadium project in the coming years.

Warren also spent time with the Detroit Lions and St. Louis Rams from 1997-2003 before joining the Vikings in 2005.