When you think of the Chicago Bears, you think of grit, hard work, and blue-collar toughness. That's why Mayor Thomas M. McDermott Jr. of Hammond, Indiana, believes his city—not Arlington Heights—is the perfect home for the Monsters of the Midway.

In McDermott's colorful view, Arlington Heights is where fans wear tuxedos and sip Champagne. That just doesn't fit the Bears' famously rugged identity. But Hammond? With Chicago literally across the street, it's a natural fit. "The tippety-top spot," as the mayor puts it, for a new stadium.

And who really cares about the state line? The games will still sell out. McDermott points out that Bears players and staff have been golfing for years at Hammond's serene Lost Marsh Golf Course, often pairing it with a trip to the high-performing Horseshoe Casino. That connection might explain why Hammond has emerged as either a preferred site or a strategic bargaining chip against Illinois, which has been reluctant to give the Bears what they want.

Indiana, on the other hand, has stepped up with everything the Bears need financially—but only if they're willing to move to a 350-acre site near Wolf Lake in Hammond. "The Bears will save billions by coming to Hammond," McDermott says, noting that from a pure business perspective, it's a no-brainer given the difference in state incentives. But he knows it's not just about the money.

"Indiana has a great offer on the table," he admits. "But there is a nostalgia factor."

And that's the rub. There's also a political factor, especially for Illinois Governor JB Pritzker. McDermott, who has been mayor since 2003 and clearly knows every inch of his community, is frank about the challenge. In a recent conversation, he shared how much he loves Chicago and how happy he was when Rahm Emanuel was still mayor. But for now, the Bears' future remains a game of strategy, loyalty, and hard-nosed negotiation—just the way Da Bears like it.