On Thursday morning, the Chicago Bears made a power move and hired Big Ten Commissioner Kevin Warren as the organization’s new CEO and President.
So Warren is moving back to the NFL and making history once again.
Warren spent over two decades in the NFL, 15 with the Minnesota Vikings where he eventually rose to become COO. That made him the highest-ranking Black team executive and the first Black COO in league history.
In 2019, he was named as the successor to Big Ten commissioner Kevin Delaney and when he officially assumed the role in 2020, he became the first Black commissioner of a Power Five conference.
After starting his tenure with the Big Ten, the pandemic hit and Warren, along with his counterpart at the Pac-12, decided to cancel the fall season. But after much pushback, they rescinded and began the season in late October.
While it wasn’t the smoothest start, his detractors were silenced as the Big Ten continued to succeed nationally, particularly in football where Ohio State and Michigan made the College Football Playoff four straight years.
But his biggest accomplishment arrived in the summer of 2022 when he snatched UCLA and USC away from the Pac-12 and then proceeded to sign the biggest conference media rights deal in history. That deal, signed with CBS Sports, FOX Sports and NBC Sports, will see the Big Ten paid roughly $1 billion annually over seven years beginning in July 2023.
That dwarfs the massive ten-year, $3 billion deal the SEC signed with ESPN previously.
Now Warren leaves the Big Ten in great shape, where its members will be secure financially and competitively for the next decade.
Warren will travel across town to become the Bears’ first Black president and CEO in team history.
“Kevin is a man of integrity, respect and excellence, all of which are critical core values of the Chicago Bears, and we welcome his perspective and diverse thought to lead this storied organization,” Bears chairman George H. McCaskey said in a statement. “He is a proven leader who has many times stepped outside of his comfort zone to challenge status quo for unconventional growth and prosperity. In this role, Warren will serve in the primary leadership position of the franchise to help bring the next Super Bowl championship trophy home to Bears fans.”
Bears GM Ryan Poles echoed McCaskey’s sentiments.
“Kevin is going to be a tremendous resource and I am excited to get started with him,” said Poles. “In my time spent with him during the interview process, it quickly became apparent his resumé and business acumen will be a powerful asset to helping improve our organization and ultimately reach our goal to be a championship organization.”
Warren is excited to join the team and is ready to bring a championship back to the Windy City.
“I am honored and recognize the responsibility bestowed upon me to lead the Chicago Bears during this exciting and pivotal time for the franchise,” said Warren. “I look forward to building on the rich tradition that started with George Halas and connecting with the unique and vibrant fanbase in Chicago. I join the Chicago Bears with gratitude and drive to carry out and build upon the legacy and spirit of this founding franchise and my predecessors. This is a franchise that is respected in all of professional sports, and I am humbled to be selected as the next President & CEO of the Chicago Bears. I sincerely thank Virginia McCaskey, George McCaskey, the McCaskey family, Ted Phillips and the search team, for the responsibility and trust placed in me to lead the Chicago Bears and deliver championships to Chicago.”
Warren now becomes the NFL’s fifth Black team president behind Jason Wright (Washington Commanders), Sashi Brown (Baltimore Ravens), Sandra Douglass Morgan (Las Vegas Raiders) and Damani Leech (Denver Broncos).
