Chicago Bears President and CEO Ted Phillips will retire at the end of the season after nearly 40 years with the franchise.
Phillips, an accountant by trade, joined the Bears as the team's controller in 1983 and spent four years in that position before moving up the organization's ladder. He became president in February 1999 and has had a hand since then in hiring four general managers, including Ryan Poles this year. Phillips oversaw several renovations to the team's suburban headquarters and played a key role in negotiating the oft-criticized renovation of Soldier Field in 2002.
Most recently, his focus has been on purchasing a 326-acre tract of land in suburban Arlington Heights, Illinois, where a new stadium and entertainment complex could be built. The team is scheduled to unveil conceptual plans for the site - about 30 miles northwest of Soldier Field - at a community meeting Thursday in the town.
Phillips said Friday in a statement he has been "truly blessed'' to work for the Bears. He said he appreciated the support of the McCaskey family owners and called "overseeing this amazing growth of the Chicago Bears'' a "dream come true.''
"Every day has been a true pleasure and being surrounded by so many talented and wonderful people has made my job richly rewarding on many levels,'' he said. "I will always bleed blue and orange and forever be proud to be a part of the Chicago Bears family.''
Team matriarch Virginia McCaskey, the daughter of founder George Halas, said in a rare public statement the Bears were "very blessed'' to have Phillips.
The Bears said a search for his replacement is underway and a successor will be hired "in the coming months.''
