Chicago Bears president and CEO Ted Phillips will be retiring at the end of the 2022 season, according to The Athletic‘s Dan Pompei.
Phillips has served as the team’s president and chief executive officer for 23 years and has been a member of Chicago’s front office for the last 39 years.
According to Pompei, Phillips told chairman George McCaskey last fall that he was considering retirement. After discussions, Phillips came to the decision to retire next February.
“When COVID came, it changed a lot of dynamics and gave me some time to reflect on my life, my work life,” Phillips told The Athletic. “I came to the conclusion that, my gosh, almost 40 years is a long time. It’s time to hand over the baton and give myself the gift of time. You know how this business can be, a lot of hours and time away from family. I just turned 65 years old. I feel good. My health is good. I felt it was time to slow down and do whatever I want to do.”
McCaskey talked about what stood out about Phillips’ 39-year tenure with the organization.
“His humility. His intelligence. His consensus building. His steady hand. His refusal to get too high or too low,” McCaskey said. “He’s been an outstanding leader for the Bears. Peerless is the word that comes to mind.”
Phillips’ lasting legacy appears to be his involvement in laying groundwork on the Bears’ proposed Arlington Heights stadium. The team is set to unveil conceptual plans next Thursday.
According to The Athletic, the organization has already started the search for Phillips’ replacement. McCaskey, Phillips and senior vice president of diversity, equity and inclusion Tanesha Wade are working with the search firm Nolan Partners.
Pompei noted some potential in-house replacements in senior vice president of marketing and communications Scott Hagel and senior vice president and legal counsel Cliff Stein.
