The Chicago Bears, a franchise steeped in NFL history, announced Friday they would "advance" stadium development in Hammond, Ind.

Adam Schefter, a top NFL reporter from ESPN, quoted a source saying, "Barring anything very strange, it's a done deal."

Governor Mike Braun wrote on social media, "Hoosiers, help me welcome the Chicago Bears to our great state!"

But the Chicago mayor's office put out a statement on social media saying, "Bears officials have stated this vote does not mean a move to Hammond is a done deal. Without a final site selection, until we see shovels in the groud in Hammond, the City of Chicago will continue to engage in discussions grounded in the interests of our residents."

Illinois state Rep. Kam Buckner, a Democrat from Chicago, said Bears president Kevin Warren called him to talk about the team's upcoming statement on the stadium.

"He ended the conversation by committing to continue discussions around their pursuit of a new stadium in Illinois," Buckner said in his own statement. "...The carefully crafted statement (from the Bears) also uses words that describe a process that is continuing, rather than reaching a conclusion."

Bears board of directors chairman George McCaskey released a statement Friday, first reported by the Chicago Sun Times, saying the stadium site in Indiana is "to be selected."

The Illinois Legislature ended its Spring session without passing a bill aimed to keep the team in Chicago. Lawmakers, including Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker, said they worried about spending public money on a new stadium as residents struggle with affordability.

As Illinois dithered, Indiana lawmakers passed legislation earlier this year with $1 billion of incentives for the team.

Indiana Speaker of the House Todd Huston led the effort to pass that legislation. He says it's a major win for Indiana.

"We're stable. We get things done," Huston said. "We support big things in Indiana and this is certainly one of them."