WARE, United Kingdom – Nestled in the English countryside adjacent to their hotel, the field the Bears are practicing on this week is surrounded by rolling hills and picturesque greenery.
After taking in the breathtaking views Thursday, chairman George H. McCaskey met with Chicago reporters to discuss all things Bears, including Sunday's game against the Jaguars, Caleb Williams and the status of the team's stadium project.
"Players have been great; facilities, very impressive," McCaskey said. "One of our trainers was just telling me at practice that the other facilities they looked at back in March were a half-hour or 45-minute bus ride [away from the hotel]. To be able to walk down the hill to the practice pitch is very convenient. Field's in great shape. Facilities are good. Everybody's got a positive mindset, and we're excited about Sunday."
The Bears are preparing for their third regular-season game in London; they defeated the Buccaneers in 2011 and lost to the Raiders in 2019. But this is their first trip across the pond since they were assigned the United Kingdom and Spain in 2022 as part of the NFL's Global Markets Program, which awards teams international marketing rights to build their fan base and brand awareness.
"This is a chance for us to touch our fans right here in the U.K.," McCaskey said. "We've been here before. We also have global rights in Spain. Both markets have avid fans of American football and of the Bears, and this is our chance to connect with them and show them what American football's all about and hopefully come away with a 'W.'"
Many of the fans who attend Sunday's contest at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium no doubt will be wearing No. 18 Bears jerseys in honor of Williams, the No. 1 overall pick in the draft.
McCaskey has enjoyed getting to know the rookie quarterback, albeit from a distance.
"Especially when the season starts, I try to stay out of the players' way," McCaskey said. "I know that they've got things to do and they're into each other. But you've seen him. He's an irrepressible spirit, and if he wants to get to know you, you don't have a choice in the matter. It's been a lot of fun. He always says hello. He's always friendly. And he's fun to watch."
McCaskey was also asked about the Bears' quest for a new stadium. On Wednesday, team president and CEO Kevin Warren reiterated that the club's sole focus is on building a state-of-the-art fixed-roof stadium along Chicago's lakefront.
"We want to go where the best deal is possible, where it's most feasible financially, politically, geographically," McCaskey said. "The lakefront is an excellent site, and we think that a roofed stadium just south of Soldier Field can be great for Chicago, for the region and for the great state of Illinois."
On a lighter note, McCaskey had positive things to say about the Bears' appearance on "Hard Knocks" during training camp, even referencing the storyline about a pet ferret that receiver Velus Jones Jr. had purchased while attending USC. In the past, McCaskey had publicly voiced his opposition to the Bears being featured on the annual behind-the-scenes series.
"The Hard Knocks crew was fantastic," he said. "[Director] Shannon Furman and her people were professional. They were flexible. They were cooperative. They understood. And in the end, I thought they put together a great series. I didn't know that things like pet ferrets would capture the nation's attention, but I thought they did a great job telling human stories. And I thought they also humanized Ryan [Poles] and Matt [Eberflus]. You could see how much they care about our players. And I thought they cast the greatest city in the world in a great light."
