Recent legislative momentum in Springfield has strengthened the case for the Chicago Bears remaining in Illinois through the end of 2026. The Illinois House advanced a megaprojects bill in late April offering property-tax certainty and relief for a new domed stadium at the Arlington Heights site the franchise already owns, countering Indiana’s earlier incentives for a Hammond location. With the team’s decision deadline set for late spring or early summer and no confirmed move across state lines, traders see limited risk of an exit by year-end. On-field factors such as the 2025 season’s middling results and ongoing roster continuity play no direct role, as this remains an infrastructure and tax-policy matter rather than a game-day or injury-driven outcome.