Johnson spoke with Bears executive leadership, who indicated they intend to prioritize the Arlington Heights site, the statement said.
Johnson said the door remains open to the Bears in Chicago.
A Bears move could be a significant blow to the city.
Arlington Heights recently approved a deal to open a formal review of the Bears' $5 billion plan to build a stadium in the suburb.
They've been courting the team for several years.
In a statement, the Bears said, "Over the last few months, we have made significant progress with the leaders in Arlington Heights, and look forward to continuing to work with state and local leaders on making a transformative economic development project for the region a reality."
Arlington Heights Mayor Jim Tinaglia said Friday, "We have a great working relationship with the team, and I have always believed that the former Arlington Park site is the best location for a new NFL stadium centered development for the entire Chicagoland region. While much work remains to ensure that the community's and the team's goals can be met, we all agree that the discussions are headed in the right direction and we are optimistic for the future of this partnership."
Arlington Heights officials went on to say they have been working closely with the Bears since a Memorandum of Understanding was approved in December of 2024.
"I don't know if folks are surprised here. We've long thought that Arlington Heights was the best option for the Bears and for the village. I think the everybody's finally come to the same conclusion that the plan in Chicago isn't feasible. And now we can start doing the hard work of figuring out how we do this here," said Ernie Rose, with Touchdown Arlington Heights. "The village of Arlington then has to be ready to get in the weeds. All of our residents have been asking for years when we're going to answer the questions about traffic, and how we how we build this stadium and now's the time to do that."
Village officials are hoping that now it is finally their time to lure the Bears.
"There's no question that the Bears are trying to appeal to the collective ego of Chicagoans, and Chicago politicians and the mayor," said Fred Mitchell, a former Chicago Tribune sports writer. "It seems to me Arlington Heights sort of represented the trump card, if you will, for the Bears."
But wanting the Bears to stay and making it happen could be challenging with the governor and lawmakers unwilling to provide the funding needed to make that happen.
The Bears have owned the 326-acre property at the former Arlington racetrack for two years. They've released drawings of a planned stadium and entertainment complex, but then turned their pursuit to a new downtown Chicago stadium.
The Arlington plan includes a domed stadium, along with an entertainment district on the property.
If there is going to be any help from Springfield, it will have to happen soon, with the legislative session ending in two weeks.
The local school districts have already worked out a tentative agreement on property taxes. But there's still questions about how to make sure the downtown doesn't get hurt by any development by the Bears.
While a new downtown Chicago stadium has a lot of supporters, no one has yet figured out how to pay for the extensive infrastructure improvements needed.
The Bears have said they are also still considering their proposal to stay on the Chicago lakefront, building a new stadium next to their current home, Soldier Field.
Arlington Heights officials say the financial analysis as well as traffic impact studies could take several weeks or even months.
But, if the numbers work out, they are hoping to see construction equipment on the property sometime soon.
There are still many things that have to happen before the Bears finalize any plans, and Chicago won't go down without a fight.
Districts 15, 211 and 214 released a joint statement, saying, "We continue to welcome the Chicago Bears' proposed stadium and entertainment district in Arlington Heights. The project has the potential to generate long-term economic growth, increase regional visibility, and create new opportunities for our students and communities. We are excited about the possibility.
"We are committed to working collaboratively with the Village of Arlington Heights, the Chicago Bears, and our elected officials, consistent with the Memorandum of Understanding between the school districts, the Village, and the Bears."
"We believe there is a path forward that supports both world-class development and strong public education, and we look forward to continuing these important conversations."