Kevin Warren is an American attorney and sports executive currently serving as the president and CEO of the Chicago Bears in the NFL. Prior to this role, he was the commissioner of the Big Ten Conference from 2020 to 2023. As commissioner, Warren played a key role in negotiations for the expansion of the conference. His career reflects a blend of legal expertise and leadership in the professional and collegiate sports landscape.
1948: Morrison Warren Sr. Played for the Brooklyn Dodgers
In 1948, Kevin Warren's father, Morrison Warren Sr., played football for the Brooklyn Dodgers.
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November 17, 1963: Kevin Warren's Birth
On November 17, 1963, Kevin Fulbright Warren was born. He would later become an American attorney and sports executive.
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1981: Member of Ivy League Championship Team
In 1981, Kevin Warren was a member of the Quakers’ 1981-82 Ivy League Championship team at the University of Pennsylvania.
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1982: Morrison Warren Sr. President of Fiesta Bowl Board
In 1982, Kevin Warren's father, Morrison Warren Sr., was named president of the 1982 Fiesta Bowl Board of Directors.
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November 17, 1984: 42 Point Game Against Concordia College
On November 17, 1984, Kevin Warren scored 42 points against Concordia College.
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1985: Senior Season at GCU
In Kevin Warren's senior season of 1985–86, he averaged 23.3 points per game.
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1986: Earned Undergraduate Degree
In 1986, Kevin Warren earned his undergraduate degree in Business Administration from Grand Canyon University.
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1988: Earned MBA at ASU
In 1988, Kevin Warren earned his Master of Business Administration from Arizona State University.
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1990: Began Law Career
In 1990, Kevin Warren began his law career at Bond, Schoeneck & King in Overland Park, Kansas.
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1990: Earned Juris Doctor
In 1990, Kevin Warren earned his Juris Doctor from the University of Notre Dame Law School.
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1991: Befriended Chris Zorich
In 1991, while teaching a class at Notre Dame, Kevin Warren befriended All-American defensive lineman Chris Zorich.
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1992: Married Greta
In 1992, Kevin Warren and his wife Greta were married.
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1992: Established Sports and Entertainment Agency
In 1992, Kevin Warren established his own sports and entertainment agency, Kevin Warren & Associates in Overland Park, Kansas.
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1997: NFL front office career with the St. Louis Rams
In 1997, Kevin Warren started his NFL front office career with the St. Louis Rams.
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1997: Hired by St. Louis Rams
In 1997, Kevin Warren was hired by the St. Louis Rams in a legal/front office position.
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2000: Super Bowl Ring
In 2000, Kevin Warren earned a Super Bowl Ring with the Rams when they defeated the Tennessee Titans in Super Bowl XXXIV.
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2000: Super Bowl XXXIV Win
In 2000, Kevin Warren was an executive with the St. Louis Rams when the team won Super Bowl XXXIV.
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2001: Joined Detroit Lions
In 2001, Kevin Warren joined the Detroit Lions as the senior vice president of business operations and general counsel.
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2005: Represented Wilf family
In 2005, Kevin Warren represented the Wilf family and Minnesota Vikings ownership group in a $600 million deal to purchase the Minnesota Vikings.
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2005: Hired by Vikings
In 2005, The Vikings hired Kevin Warren as their executive vice president of legal affairs and chief administrative officer.
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2006: Recognized as a Minority Business Leader
In 2006, the Twin Cities Business Journal recognized Kevin Warren as a Minority Business Leader.
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2007: Appointed to NFL's working group on emergency planning
In 2007, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell appointed Kevin Warren to the NFL's working group on emergency planning.
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2012: Vermeil Praises Warren
In 2012, Dick Vermeil praised Kevin Warren as being "as critical and important a part of [the] Rams Super Bowl Championship team as anybody in [the] organization."
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2012: Inducted into Grand Canyon University Athletics Hall of Fame
In March 2012, Kevin Warren was inducted into the Grand Canyon University Athletics Hall of Fame.
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September 2013: Named to NFL Committee on Workplace Diversity
In September 2013, Kevin Warren was named a member of the NFL Committee on Workplace Diversity.
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2013: Morrison Warren named one of the Top 50 ASU football players
In 2013, Kevin Warren's father, Morrison Warren was named one of the Top 50 ASU football players of all time.
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October 2014: Death of Carolyn Warren-Knox
In October 2014, Kevin Warren's sister Carolyn Elaine Warren-Knox died of brain cancer.
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February 2015: Promoted to COO
In February 2015, Kevin Warren was promoted to the role of chief operating officer of the Minnesota Vikings.
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2015: First African-American COO in NFL
In 2015, Kevin Warren became the first African-American chief operating officer (COO) of an NFL team, while working for the Minnesota Vikings.
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2015: Corporate Counsel Award
In 2015, The Twin Cities Business Journal honored Kevin Warren with the Corporate Counsel Award for Private Company-Large.
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March 2016: Appointed to Selection Committee for Athletic Director
In March 2016, Kevin Warren was appointed by University of Minnesota President Eric W. Kaler to serve as a member of the selection committee for the role of athletic director.
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2016: Vikings Begin Season in New Stadium
In 2016, the Minnesota Vikings began the NFL season in the new U.S. Bank Stadium.
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2017: Board of Trustees
In 2017, Kevin Warren was a member of the 2016-2017 Board of Trustees for the Minneapolis Institute of Art.
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2017: Texas Southern University Pioneer Award
In 2017, on the eve of Super Bowl LI, Kevin Warren was presented with the inaugural Texas Southern University Pioneer Award.
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March 2018: Twin Cities Orthopedic Performance Center Opened
In March 2018, Twin Cities Orthopedic Performance Center opened.
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June 2018: Ribbon-cutting Ceremony for Vikings' new practice facility
In June 2018, the ribbon-cutting ceremony was held for the Vikings' new practice facility with attendees including NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, Twin Cities Orthopedics CEO Troy Simonson, and Governor Mark Dayton.
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June 4, 2019: Named Commissioner of the Big Ten Conference
On June 4, 2019, Kevin Warren was named Commissioner of the Big Ten Conference.
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September 2019: Assumed Big Ten Commissioner-Elect Duties
In September 2019, Kevin Warren assumed Big Ten Commissioner-Elect duties.
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November 2019: Inducted into W.P. Carey School of Business Alumni Hall of Fame
In November 2019, Kevin Warren was inducted into the 42nd annual W.P. Carey School of Business Alumni Hall of Fame at Arizona State University.
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December 2019: "Best Hire" Recognition
In December 2019, Kevin Warren was featured on the cover of Sports Business Journal alongside Serena Williams, LeBron James, and Adam Silver where he received the honor of "Best Hire" of the year.
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2019: Forbes Estimated Vikings Value
In 2019, Forbes estimated the value of the Vikings franchise at US$2.7 billion.
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January 2020: Assumed Commissioner position
In January 2020, Kevin Warren officially assumed the position of Commissioner of the Big Ten.
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January 12, 2023: Named President and CEO of Chicago Bears
On January 12, 2023, Kevin Warren was named the new team president and chief executive officer of the Chicago Bears.
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2024: USC and UCLA to join Big Ten
In 2024, USC and UCLA were scheduled to join the Big Ten Conference under Kevin Warren's oversight.
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