In a move that has stunned both MLB and NFL fans alike, Pittsburgh Pirates head coach Don Kelly has officially terminated his contract with the Chicago Bears following an eye-popping $62.4 million deal proposal—but not from a football team.
According to sources close to the negotiations, Kelly is finalizing a groundbreaking multi-year agreement with a major international sports conglomerate believed to be Red Bull Global Sports, which oversees athletic operations across baseball, motorsports, and extreme sports. The deal would position Kelly as a global director of player development, marking one of the rare transitions from team coaching to executive-level sports management on an international scale.
“Unexpected, But Not Surprising”
Although Don Kelly had only recently entered discussions with the Chicago Bears in a surprise crossover coaching advisory role—sparking excitement over the unusual baseball-football partnership—his sudden exit reflects his growing ambitions beyond the dugout.
“Don’s mind for the game is incredible, and not just baseball,” said a senior Pirates executive. “But we didn’t expect this leap.”
The Chicago Bears have not yet commented on the termination of the short-lived contract, which was reportedly still in its early onboarding phase. NFL insiders are calling the situation “unprecedented.”
What’s Next?
If confirmed, Kelly’s new $62.4 million role would include global scouting initiatives, performance analytics leadership, and talent pipeline management across multiple sports disciplines—making him one of the highest-paid cross-sport executives in modern sports history.
Fans in Pittsburgh are left shocked and divided, with some praising his bold career move while others mourn the sudden loss of a beloved skipper who was credited with reviving the Pirates’ competitive spirit in recent seasons.
