The Chicago Bears have indeed extended General Manager Ryan Poles’ contract through the 2029 season. This decision puts him on the same page with head coach Ben Johnson going forward. This decision is still weighing on the organization as they look for stability and leadership after a rocky beginning to their rebuilding process. Poles, who has led since 2022, has two years left on his original five-year deal.
In January, Poles oversaw an extensive coaching search that culminated in Johnson’s hiring. The Bears had cast a wide net, interviewing 17 candidates before settling on the former Detroit Lions offensive coordinator. Since then, Poles and Johnson have worked hand-in-hand on some jarring roster changes to breathe new life into the team.
During their first draft together, the Bears focused on enhancing their offense by selecting two pass-catching weapons with their top two picks. Those moves reflect Poles’ commitment to building a competitive ball club set around their QB of the future Caleb Williams. He acquired Williams by smartly trading the No. 1 overall draft pick to the Carolina Panthers in March 2023, securing wide receiver DJ Moore and premium draft capital.
Poles has prioritized strengthening the O-line and D-line. Perhaps that explains why he made such substantial investments. He traded for guards Joe Thuney and Jonah Jackson, and signed center Drew Dalman in free agency. On that side of the ball, he brought in tackles Grady Jarrett and Shemar Turner, as well as defensive end Dayo Odeyingbo.
National analysts are already arguing over when the Bears should’ve extended Poles’ contract. Many are wondering whether the team rushed into this decision, particularly in light of their woeful performance in recent years. Yet, those outside of the organization were happy to overlook the outcry by many inside when they praised Poles’ vision and leadership.
“There’s a rhythm to all the madness behind what we do and how we do it,” – Ben Johnson
Johnson has consistently lauded Poles for his steady-hand management style and day-to-day operation within the building.
“And Ryan really is all the brains behind that. He set it all up and you can tell that this group, this organization has been together for a number of years now because it’s been running so smoothly. He’s consistent every single day when he comes in. I think that sometimes is under looked at times, particularly in this profession. Consistency is a huge deal and he’s just done a great job every single day laying out a plan, executing a plan and just getting to know him more.” – Ben Johnson
The Bears are in the early stages of a rebuilding effort. They truly just want this partnership between Poles and Johnson to produce the best results on the field possible for the next few seasons.
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