Cliff Stein

Cliff Stein is in his sixth season with the Chicago Bears. In May 2007, he was named Senior Director of Football Administration and General Counsel.

Stein is the team’s lead contract negotiator for all player contracts and assists the general manager in the management and strategic planning of the clubs salary cap. He also assists the general manager in the handling of all legal issues in the football operations department. He serves as the liaison between the National Football League Management Council and the club on all CBA / salary cap compliance issues and other legal matters. In addition, Stein serves as the club’s general counsel on all general legal matters and liaison to outside counsel. In 2005, Stein was admitted by the Supreme Court of Illinois to practice law as House Counsel pursuant to Rule 716.

Stein joined the team in February 2002, as the director of player contracts & legal affairs. Prior to joining the Bears, he represented NFL players in contract negotiations and was a certified contract advisor with National Football League Players Association (NFLPA) from 1994 to 2002. Between 1997 and 2002, he was a partner in the law firm Colton & Stein, P.C. in Voorhees, New Jersey, where he specialized in sports law and civil litigation. In his previous capacity as an NFL agent, Stein performed all salary and endorsement contract negotiations and handled arbitrations, injury grievances, appeals and workers compensation claims.

Stein graduated magna cum laude from Temple University in 1991 and received a B.B.A. degree in business law and finance. He received his Juris Doctor degree from Temple University School of Law in 1994. As a law student he clerked for three Federal Court judges. He was admitted to the practice of law in New Jersey and Pennsylvania in 1994. In 1995, he was appointed by the president of the Bar Association to serve on the Committee of Legal Ethics and Professional Responsibility. Upon graduation from law school in 1994, he began his legal career as a litigation and labor associate at a large union side labor law firm in Southern New Jersey. In addition to representing professional athletes during his legal career, Stein also became skilled in the art of trial advocacy. Prior to joining the Bears, Stein notched several jury trial victories on behalf of his clients in cases involving significant personal injuries, wrongful death, dram shop liability and insurance litigation. He also served as the municipal prosecutor for the Borough of Audubon, New Jersey in 2001-2002.

Stein was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He and his wife Gayle have two children, son Jesse and daughter Brynn.