Ted Phillips life and biography

Ted Phillips was named President and Chief Executive Officer of Chicago Bears on February 10, 1999. He is the fourth person to serve as president in the organization's storied 90-year history following Michael McCaskey, George "Mugs" Halas, Jr., and George S. Halas. Since taking on the top leadership role, Phillips has insisted on attention to detail and smooth execution at every level of the Bears' operation. He has solidified the long term stability of the Club, while staying keenly focused on bringing a 10th championship to the NFL's premier franchise.

Phillips has the Bears back among the NFL's elite through his focus on continuity at the top management levels. Part of his plan in revitalizing both the business and football operations has been to hire high character, intelligent and driven individuals who share common goals and philosophies on how to build a consistent winner.

Drawing from 27 years of experience with the Chicago Bears, Phillips has shown effective leadership skills by empowering his executive staff to create an environment of collective responsibility in running the day-to-day operations of the Club. Phillips is involved in all critical decisions of the Bears and continues to strive to make all aspects of the Bears organization the best in the NFL. Always insisting on a team first attitude, Phillips has surrounded himself with individuals who fit the organization's character, culture and values. The team dynamic was crucial in the Bears return to the Super Bowl for the first time in 21 years following the 2006 campaign. Phillips' other highlights include hiring the team's first general manager in over 14 years, creating and continuing a strong customer service mentality throughout the organization, returning the Bears training camp to Illinois and presiding over three division championships (2001, 2005 and 2006) after a decade-long drought.

During the 2001 off-season, Phillips hired Jerry Angelo, giving new direction to the Bears football operations. He went on to extend Angelo's contract following the 2003 and 2006 seasons, creating continuity and stability across the front office.

Fans have responded favorably since the Bears training camp returned to the State of Illinois in 2002, turning out in record numbers over the three-week training period on the campus of Olivet Nazarene University in Bourbonnais, IL.

Phillips' leadership was also key in negotiating a new home for the team at Soldier Field. Not only making the club more financially competitive, it provides the best fans in professional sports, the 4th Phase, with a stadium complete with all the amenities they deserve. The Soldier Field game day experience is second to none and the 4th Phase has been critical in creating a great home field advantage for the team as the Bears continue to maintain their proud history and tradition on Chicago's magnificent lakefront.

Among the many local and national awards, the Soldier Field project was selected by the New York Times as one of the nation's best architectural buildings in 2003, and Midwest Construction selected Soldier Field as "Overall Project of the Year."

Phillips served as the Bears' Vice President of Operations for six seasons starting in 1993. Recognized for his many years of handling the Bears' contract negotiations and team finances, Phillips currently serves on two League executive committees, whose mission is to analyze the economic, legal and operational aspects of both the salary cap system and the collective bargaining agreement between the NFL and the NFL Players Association. Phillips also serves as a member of the NFL employee benefits committee.

Before becoming Vice President of Operations, Phillips served as the Director of Finance from 1987 to 1993, handling all player contract negotiations and overseeing the club's business operations. Phillips joined the Bears staff on September 28, 1983, as the team's Controller, a position he held for four years.

Prior to joining the Bears, Phillips was employed as an auditor and tax accountant with the international accounting firm Ernst & Whinney (now Ernst & Young), from 1979-83. He graduated from the University of Notre Dame in 1979 with a degree in business and accounting. Phillips earned a master of marketing and management degree from the Kellogg Graduate School at Northwestern University in 1989.

Phillips was born in Oneida, N.Y., and grew up in Nashua, N.H. He has three sons, Matthew, Max and Frank.

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