The Chicago Bears could be on the move.A three-way tug-of-war is set to unfold over the future of the franchise, and it appears Illinois will struggle to keep hold of the team.The Bears have plans to build a multi-billion dollar stadium away from Soldier FieldManicaThe Bears have long been looking to move from historic Soldier Field, which sits on the Near South Side of Chicago, and has been their home since 1971.Arlington Heights, Illinois, had been the expected site for a new, $4.7billion stadium.But issues over public funding have allowed two other states to try and lure the franchise away.It was revealed in December 2025 that the Bears were mulling a move to Indiana, and their push for a new stadium across state lines took a big step forward last week.Indiana lawmakers cleared a path for the team to build their new domed stadium in Hammond, Northwest Indiana, in news that surprised Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker.Meanwhile, Iowa was said to be keen on pulling the Bears east, with a big proposal of their own.The future of the team, then, is far from settled.But moving out of Soldier Field, to the suburbs or beyond, risks upsetting some of important cogs in the current Chicago operation.Ben Johnson shared love for Soldier Field before relocation battle broke outHead coach Ben Johnson, who turned the Bears from a 5-12 team to NFL playoff contenders in 2025, has already made clear his love for the team’s historic lakefront home.Chicago beat their great rival, the Green Bay Packers, in a dramatic wild-card game on the shores of Lake Michigan back in January.Johnson has turned the Bears into contenders, and has spoken highly of Soldier FieldGettyChicago beat their rival, Green Bay, in a dramatic wild-card playoff gameGettyThe Bears rallied from 18 points down to win 31-27, and scored 25 of those points in the fourth quarter.It was an incredible turnaround, and one that will live long in the memory of a team that were then edged by the Los Angeles Rams in overtime a week later.Speaking about that playoff victory against the Packers, Johnson revealed the Soldier Field atmosphere was key to the comeback.“When you win a game in that fashion, scoring 25 points in the fourth quarter, there’s a level of excitement,” he told ESPN Chicago.“That’s something that I don’t think they’ll ever forget.”Host Jeff Joniak, who also serves as a play-by-play commentator for Bears radio broadcasts, noted that the floor of Soldier Field was ‘shaking’ that night.Johnson admitted the Soldier Field atmosphere in January was like no otherGettyJohnson then admitted he had never been in an atmosphere quite like that before.“You felt the fans throughout the day. Felt the energy leaving the hotel, going over to the stadium,” Chicago’s HC explained.“We stayed at a hotel close to the stadium. You kind of see it building over the course of the day too, as we’re just buying our time before we go over.“Then to experience that firsthand, I mean, it’s second to none.NFL's Greatest......Ranking the top 10......Quarterbacks of all-time – Can anyone better Tom Brady?Wide receivers of all-time – Does Randy Moss or Jerry Rice come out on top?Running backs of all-time – Stacking Jim Brown, Barry Sanders, Walter Payton, Emmitt Smith and moreTight ends of all-time – How does Travis Kelce compare?“I don’t know if I’ve been a part of something quite like that before, especially in that fourth quarter when things got a lot closer.“You could just feel it all come to life. I think they knew what our players already believed, that despite digging ourselves in a little bit of a hole early on, that we’re going to find a way to come out on top.”Quarterback Caleb Williams, who has also been a key part of the Bears’ impressive turnaround, has offered similar praise of the Soldier Field atmosphere, and the general vibe of the Windy City.It seems that both he and Johnson would prefer staying in Chicago, over a move across state lines.The Bears will move from Soldier Field, but to where is not yet clearGettyBut the decision, ultimately, is above them.What is the latest on the Bears stadium move?While a path has been cleared for a stadium site near the Wolf Lake area of Hammond, Indiana, team president Kevin Warren said this past weekend that legislation is also moving forward in Springfield, Illinois.“We continue to work with Illinois’ leadership and appreciate the progress being made,” a statement said.A final decision is yet to be made, but regardless of where they end up, the Bears will soon be out of Soldier Field — with aims to be in a new home by 2029.Stay up to date with the latest from the NFL across all platforms – follow our dedicated talkSPORT USA Facebook page and subscribe to our talkSPORT USA YouTube channel for all the news, exclusives, interviews and more.