The ball bearing looks quite dry, which might // just // be the result of becoming so hot.
How greasy are the tapered roller and cylindrical roller bearings ?
** Certainly confirm the ball bearing is actually being greased.
Was the bearing greased manually before installation, or installed right out of the package, then greased via the shared lubrication port.
What is the environment of the fan ?
If the upper most seal is inadequate by design or after a repair then the upper bearing would be subject to contamination first.
I think there is a flinger or slinger missing above the ball bearing.
(I just saw in the second posted image the upper cover has a V-ring bearing on it, and what looks like a gap between the bolted cover and bearing
As suggested by others, if the ball bearing and the tapered roller bearing get into a thrust fight, the ball bearing will lose. I suspect the if the inner races are clamped by the shaft nut as shown, the cover etc above the ball bearing is supposed to have a gap between it and the outer race. If parts were left out or improperly installed