Ryan Poles Said The Taboo Word When Asked About His 2023 Expectations

Ryan Poles understood what was likely to happen when he began dismantling the Chicago Bears' roster in 2022. He refused to call it tanking, but it was evident he wanted to unload every expensive veteran on the payroll and stockpile draft picks. Then he aimed to rebuild everything from the ground up. While he likely didn't expect the Bears to make the playoffs last year, he also didn't see them finishing with the worst record in football. He admitted in recent interviews that the constant losing caused him to break a few trash cans at Halas Hall.

He never took those frustrations out on the players or coaches. Still, it's evident how much of a competitor he is. That would explain why his level of expectations has shifted drastically after the conclusion of a second off-season. Poles told Bleck & Abdalla of ESPN 1000 that the locker room should start having the mindset of expecting to win every game they play. The talent has improved. Matt Eberflus and his coaching staff now have their schemes firmly established. Don't worry about what the outside world thinks. Embrace the "championship" mindset.

Ryan Poles understands a window has opened for the Bears.

Aaron Rodgers is no longer in the division. Green Bay's iron grip on the NFC North appears weakened. Maybe Jordan Love is the next great star, but that seems unlikely. Minnesota has downgraded since last season. Detroit is the current favorite to win the division but is far from unbeatable. If the Bears play up to their newfound potential, it's hardly impossible to think they can make a playoff run. This organization has made rapid turnarounds before. They went from 5-11 to 13-3 in 2001 and 5-11 to 11-5 in 2005. Both were accomplished with far less capable quarterbacks than Justin Fields.

Better performances from the defense and more productive plays from the receiving core should turn many of the tight losses they suffered last season into wins. Ryan Poles said this 2023 schedule is perfect for his young team. It puts them in several primetime spots, allowing them to operate in a playoff-like atmosphere. That experience could serve them well by December. It would be a great year for Bears fans, who rarely see this team exceed expectations.