You might be able to take the Bears out of Illinois, but you can’t take Chicago out of the Bears. At least, that’s what social media is saying in response to fresh rumors regarding a potential name change if they move to Indiana.
With their Soldier Field stadium lease up in 2033, the Bears have been busy looking for a new home to play football. The organization has targeted the state of Indiana as a potential home. If so, one report is already saying the team could then be known as the “Indiana Bears.”
But not so fast, says one analyst from Pro Football Network.
Matt Infante Calls BS on Latest Chicago Bears Rumors
On Wednesday, the NFL world got sent into a bit of a frenzy.
It all went down after Ben Devine, the self-described “Most plugged-in Chicago Bears analyst,” reported Indiana is “so heavily incentivizing” the stadium deal to the point where they’re pushing to include the state in the team name.
So, rather than being known as the Chicago Bears, as they have been since 1922, they’d suddenly become the “Indiana Bears.”
“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 is completed,” read Devine’s report.
Yet, not everyone bought Devine’s report.
It didn’t take long for PFN’s Jacob Infante to chime in, stressing that there’s no chance the Bears would “take Chicago out of their name.”
“I don’t buy for a second that the Bears would ever take Chicago out of their name. Not one bit,” Infante remarked.
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
He backed up his belief by recalling what the Indiana governor said about a potential Bears move from Illinois.
“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 [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 the signs continue to point towards the Bears playing football in Indiana rather than Illinois, few expect the franchise to ditch Chicago from their name too.
After all, they wouldn’t be the first franchise to move locations but keep their city name.
The New York Giants and Jets play in New Jersey. The Washington Commanders play in Maryland and are headquartered in Virginia.
It’s entirely within the realm of possibility for the Bears to play in Indiana but stick with Chicago in the team’s name. That clearly is what the people want.
