Bears Stadium Drama: Another Setback for Illinois as Indiana Gains MORE Ground

TL;DR

Indiana's Bears stadium bill passed the Senate 45-4 and heads to the governor, while Illinois punted its vote until at least March.

Key Points

• 1.Indiana's Senate Bill 27 passed 45-4 and now goes to Governor Mike Braun's desk, potentially allowing construction shovels in the ground by mid-2025 targeting a 2031-2032 Super Bowl.
• 2.Illinois's stadium mega-bill was postponed after the Bears themselves asked the state to cancel last week's meeting to revise the bill; the next opportunity isn't until March or later.
• 3.Indiana sweetened its deal by offering to cover the Bears' Soldier Field lease-breaking costs, a significant financial detail that's gotten lost in the prolonged process.
• 4.The hosts argue the Bears have wasted time and money on unrealistic Chicago bids, with Mayor Brandon Johnson still publicly claiming he wants to keep the team despite it being a dead option.
• 5.Jordan Schultz reported teams have called inquiring about defensive tackle Javon Dexter, who is entering the final year of his rookie deal with 13.5 career sacks; his future hinges on faith in injured second-year DT Shamar Turner.
• 6.DJ Moore ($23M guaranteed in 2026) and Tyson Bagent are confirmed trade targets receiving calls; the hosts believe Moore's value is undermined by his salary, suggesting any return would likely be a late-round day-three pick.
• 7.One report suggested Tyson Bagent could fetch a third and fifth-round pick — a stunning return for a backup quarterback that the hosts say reflects how desperate teams are given the thin QB trade market.
• 8.The hosts stress that if Bagent is traded, the Bears must find a replacement veteran presence to mentor Caleb Williams, citing Case Keenum's sideline coaching during the Raiders game as a critical but underappreciated development tool.