Chicago Bears president and CEO is retiring at the end of this season
Bears President and CEO Ted Phillips revealed that he plans to retire in February after spending 40 seasons with the franchise.
He has worked in his present role since 1999. Phillips originally joined the organization in 1983 as the team's controller, a position he held for four years. Afterward, he then served as director of finance from 1987-93 and vice president of operations from 1993-99.
It looks like Phillips' decision to retire has been a few years in the making.
"Forty seasons is a long time," he said. "I'm very blessed and I love my job. But when COVID hit, it gave me time to reflect and think about what I want my future to be. I'm healthy, so there's no issue there, knock on wood. It was more just wanting to give myself the gift of time, to be able to enjoy my family and my friends.
"It's a demanding job; takes a lot of time, there's a lot of pressure. I just felt like it's time to hand the baton to somebody else."
"It's a demanding job; takes a lot of time, there's a lot of pressure. I just felt like it's time to hand the baton to somebody else."
Bears chairman George H. McCaskey released a statement on Phillips' decision.
"Ted accomplished what George Halas and Mike McCaskey could not do for decades," said Bears chairman George H. McCaskey. "He navigated difficult political waters with the city, the park district, the state, the governor's office, various constituencies, ownership, staff and football operations."
Mama Bear also spoke on the subject:
"He started out with us as a financial expert. Anything that he was ever asked to take care of, he came through and did it very well. We've been very blessed to have him," said Bears owner Virginia Halas McCaskey.
ESPN's Courtney Cronin reported that the Bears have already begun searching for Phillips' successor and will announce his replacement in the coming months.
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