Could the Chicago Bears soon become the Indiana Bears? It doesn’t even sound right, yet as the Bears work to secure a new stadium deal, some reports suggest the team is inching closer to a potential move from Illinois to Indiana.
Yet, even if the Bears did change states, would they really leave behind such an iconic name? NFL fans sure hope not.
NFL Fans Super Vocal on Chicago Bears’ Rumored Name Change
Ben Devine reports that the Bears are “expected” to finalize a stadium deal to place them in Indiana on Thursday.
Breaking: A finalized stadium deal is expected tomorrow with the Chicago Bears landing in Indiana. Per source, Indiana is so heavily incentivizing the deal, as to include a name change with “Indiana” in the team name when the stadium completes. #DaBears
— Ben Devine (@Chicago_NFL) August 12, 2026
Yet, one Bears fan account is calling Devine’s report “fake news.”
“Holy fake news… this is 100% false information. They wouldn’t change the name in a million years.”
Holy fake news… this is 100% false information.
They wouldn’t change the name in a million years. https://t.co/fBh8Ldn9l1
— BearsEmpire (@BearsEmpire_) August 12, 2026
The Score’s Chris Emma reports that Bears president Kevin Warren and chairman George McCaskey will be discussing the stadium project during a media session on Thursday, where the organization remains focused on targeting Indiana as a stadium site.
“Bears president/CEO Kevin Warren and George McCaskey are set to address the latest on the stadium project in a media session tomorrow afternoon. The focus remains in Northwest Indiana as the team advances its potential plans there,” Emma reported.
Bears president/CEO Kevin Warren and George McCaskey are set to address the latest on the stadium project in a media session tomorrow afternoon. The focus remains in Northwest Indiana as the team advances its potential plans there.
— Chris Emma (@ChrisEmma1) August 12, 2026
Others, like PFN’s Jacob Infante, don’t believe “for a second” that the Bears would ever remove “Chicago” from their franchise name.
“I don’t buy for a second that the Bears would ever take Chicago out of their name. Not one bit.”
I don’t buy for a second that the Bears would ever take Chicago out of their name. Not one bit.
— Jacob Infante (@jacobinfante24) August 12, 2026
Infante strengthened his case by pointing to a statement from the Indiana governor himself, who agreed it would be a “dumb idea.”
“The Indiana governor himself said it would be a dumb idea. And agreed, changing the name of a founding franchise, even if it’s something like “Chicago Bears of Indiana” or some [expletive], is still illogical.”
The Indiana governor said himself it would be a dumb idea. And agreed, changing the name of a founding franchise, even if it’s something like “Chicago Bears of Indiana” or some shit is still illogical https://t.co/rwPZprL8WY
— Jacob Infante (@jacobinfante24) August 12, 2026
While details of what the franchise is planning remain unclear, what is known is that fans would hate the idea of ‘Da Bears’ being associated with anything but Chicago. They’ve made that very clear. Going down that direction appears certain to lead to some form of protest, though it remains to be seen what the Bears’ CEO has to say on Thursday, August 13.
