Mayor Tom says Hammond remains a lead contender to host Chicago Bears

Mayor Tom said Hammond is actively pursuing the Chicago Bears and that city staff are working daily with the team’s consultants and lawyers on a possible move. "Closing this deal and the Chicago Bears moving their storied franchise to Hammond, Indiana, it's still very, very confident," he said, while acknowledging Illinois and the NFL must still complete separate reviews and approvals.

In response to audience questions about local benefits, the mayor said: "About 2,000 more permanent jobs, billions of dollars of new investment that'll lower our taxes, and your home value will go up." He cautioned that timing is controlled by the Bears and league processes; the mayor and chief of staff noted Soldier Field lease obligations run through 2033, which could influence when a final decision would be needed.

The mayor framed his remarks as a transparency update ahead of news reports and said the city is competing with Illinois for the franchise. He declined to offer a specific announcement date and asked residents to understand the process involves multiple private and public parties. City staff did not provide new contract documents or binding commitments during the livestream.