The Big Ten’s commissioner may find his next job opportunity back in the NFL.

Commissioner Kevin Warren has reportedly emerged as a top candidate to become the next president and CEO of the Chicago Bears. Warren – who has previous NFL experience with the Minnesota Vikings, Detroit Lions, and St. Louis Rams — is one of the final candidates to be considered for the position.

“We have not set a timeline for announcing Ted Phillips’ successor,” the Bears said in a statement Thursday. Phillips will retire after the 2022 season and has held his position since 1999.

The Big Ten released a statement regarding Warren’s candidacy, which noted that Warren “regularly receives unique opportunities and requests for his expertise.”

Warren played a key role in securing a new blockbuster media rights deal for the Big Ten in August. The conference agreed to a deal with FOX, CBS, NBC, and NBC’s Peacock worth at least $7 billion – the largest media rights pact in all of college sports. The deal proves to be valuable as the Big Ten will add football powerhouses USC and UCLA in 2024.