Pritzker, Goodell, and Pat Ryan meet to keep Bears in Illinois ahead of November veto session
Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker held his first in-person meeting with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and Bears minority owner Pat Ryan on October 1, 2026, to discuss keeping the franchise in the state. The gathering, which included key legislative negotiators but excluded Bears Chairman George McCaskey and President Kevin Warren, signals renewed engagement after summer communications were described as 'minimal.' Pritzker indicated that legislative action should occur during the November veto session, while the NFL emphasized the need for 'timely' solutions. The meeting highlights a complex negotiation involving potential sites in Arlington Heights, Chicago, and Hammond, Indiana, with Pat Ryan emerging as a crucial facilitator due to his financial ties to both the Bears and Northwestern University.