Forward Progress – A Chicago Bears Podcast

Episode: Halas had his eyes on Arlington Heights back in 1975
Release Date: February 11, 2026
Hosts: Dan Bernstein and Matt Abbatacola

Episode Overview

This episode dives deep into the ongoing saga over the Chicago Bears' stadium future, exploring the latest proposals for relocation—including a splashy new pitch from Portage, Indiana—and unearthing a little-known historical twist: that franchise patriarch George Halas nearly moved the Bears to Arlington Heights back in 1975. Dan and Matt blend sharp analysis, historical perspective, and their trademark banter to assess what’s real, what’s posturing, and what’s best for the Bears' next chapter.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Portage, Indiana’s Push for the Bears

(Begins ~03:36)

• Portage, Indiana, has made an official pitch—“Halas Harbor”—offering a publicly owned, rent-free stadium at no cost to the Bears or taxpayers.
• The city is working with the Indiana legislature to fast-track a proposal, hoping to get a deal done before lawmakers’ end-of-month recess.
• Mayor Austin Banta featured prominently in the Portage effort. Gary, Indiana, is also offering three alternative sites, and even Iowa is making overtures.
• Dan: “This is what happened last time… Aurora, Naperville… It’s all half a stunt. They’re gonna go to Arlington Heights one way or another.” (05:54)

2. The Reality of Stadium Relocation Stunts

(Begins ~05:54)

• Dan and Matt are skeptical about the Indiana proposals, viewing them as political theater and leverage for negotiations in Illinois.
• Dan: “Indiana’s not going to get behind multiple proposals if they’re going to award a ton of money to the Bears. The legislature… isn’t voting on two separate proposals.” (09:41)
• Matt: “So they'll obviously end up at Arlington Heights.” (09:32)
• They reference previous “relocation stunts” like Planit Park, Aurora, and Naperville in Bears history.

3. Historical Context: Halas and Arlington Heights

(Begins ~06:32)

• Matt uncovers a 1975 New York Times blurb revealing that George Halas wanted to move the Bears to Arlington Heights after stadium capacity rules changed post-NFL/AFL merger.
• Richard J. Daley, then Chicago mayor, threatened legal action to prevent loss of the “Chicago Bears” name if they left the city—a move considered mostly bluster.
• Dan: “I didn’t know that either—that he wanted to move the team to Arlington Heights.” (07:05)
• Matt: “He wanted to build a stadium that would hold 80,000… but apparently the people in Arlington Heights didn’t want it either.” (08:45)
• The lease at Soldier Field, signed in 1978, is still in effect through 2033.

4. Bears’ Current Stadium Land in Arlington Heights

(Begins ~10:09)

• Bears purchased the Arlington Heights property three years ago for $192 million and have yet to break ground.
• Dan and Matt muse that this move may reflect Halas’s original vision, but they also question whether the organization’s foresight matches its historical good fortune.

5. NFL Draft Pick Trading Proposal

(Begins ~19:21)

• The NFL may change rules to let teams trade draft picks up to five (vs. three) years into the future.
• Dan is in favor of fewer restrictions: “Your assets are your assets. … It raises the stakes of trades.” (20:29)
• Matt raises fan anxiety about Bears management mortgaging the future: “That’s a Bears fan talking… where he’s giving away six number ones to get Max Crosby here.” (23:29)
• Both agree owners should have final say on significant trades.

6. QB Free Agency & Cap Woes

(Begins ~32:02)

• Dan and Matt run through the list of available free agent QBs (Daniel Jones, Aaron Rodgers, Malik Willis, etc.), but neither would wish them as starters.
• They discuss how the rising costs and questionable returns on contracts like Kyler Murray’s ($53M cap hit) and Tua Tagovailoa’s ($57M cap hit) put teams in a bind, reinforcing the value of rookie deals.
• “That’s why Mitchell Trubisky didn’t have his fifth year option picked up… sometimes you gotta make these calls.” —Dan (35:53)

7. Draft Outlook and Mock Drafts

(Begins ~36:55 & 37:09)

• Discussion of mock drafts: Bears possibly targeting Zion Young (Missouri), NFL.com rankings debate, and a playful aside on Diego Pavia’s absence from top QB rankings.

8. Front Office News & Compensatory Pick Disappointment

(Begins ~39:10 & 39:23)

• NFL denies the Bears compensatory picks for Ian Cunningham’s hiring, based on Matt Ryan’s titular control in Atlanta.
• The search for Cunningham’s replacement is ongoing; Matt suggests looking outside the organization for fresh ideas.

Memorable Quotes & Moments

• Dan on relocation stunts:
  • “It’s all half a stunt. They’re gonna go to Arlington Heights one way or another. And if they don’t, that’d be fine too… Like, 99% possibility that they end up on the land that they bought.” (05:54)
• Matt on Bears history:
  • “George Halas… was looking at the property in Arlington Heights [in 1975]… I didn’t know all the way back then that George Hallas wanted to move to Arlington Heights.” (06:48, 07:07)
• Dan on ownership & trades:
  • “All you do is make visionary executives less valuable and stupid executives less damaging. … I think you should trust your owners.” (21:49–22:00)
• On the futility of the Portage proposal:
  • “Vacationing in Portage. Pack it up, kids, we’re going to Portage… The amount of the bonds that can be issued goes up to… $800 million. So it wouldn’t even be enough money.” (17:53–18:04)
• Comic tangent:
  • Reminiscing about disastrous remote broadcasts, Blarney Island boat trips, and chicken wing theft at remotes provides color and classic banter (14:44–16:17, 29:30–30:02).

Notable Timestamps

• Portage Indiana Proposal, Mayor Banta – 03:18–05:51
• History: Halas and Arlington Heights – 06:32–09:32
• Property taxes & financing stadium – 04:08–04:51
• NFL draft trading rule change discussion – 19:21–26:39
• QB free agent rundown & cap discussion – 32:02–36:13
• Draft and positional rankings debate – 36:55–38:02
• Bears front office update and comp picks – 39:10–39:44

Additional Highlights and Banter

• Mocking "Halas Harbor" as a name:
  • “What, do you prefer it with two Ls though? … Hellas Harbor sounds like a golf course.” (13:38)
• Nostalgia about little league bats and gloves:
  • Long segment about rising youth sports equipment costs and bat preferences (43:38–50:13).
• NFL denying Bears comp picks:
  • “The NFL ruled that former quarterback Matt Ryan holds the Falcons primary football executive position… denying Chicago two third round picks for losing Ian Cunningham.” (39:40)

Summary

This episode expertly combines Bears stadium news, rich historical context, and front office insight—all delivered in the hosts’ distinctively irreverent yet informed style. Dan and Matt debunk out-of-state stadium bids as negotiation theater, take listeners back 50 years to the very first Arlington Heights ambitions, and debate what the NFL’s next trades-and-picks rule could mean for teams like the Bears. Their mix of sharp analysis, anecdote, and comedic asides makes this an engaging must-listen for any NFL or Bears fan.