Shocking Revelation May Convince Bears To Fire Ryan Poles Too

When the season began, Ryan Poles looked like a GM who'd done some amazing work. He'd built a top-10 defense and completely overhauled the offensive roster, which included a talented quarterback (Caleb Williams) and playmakers like D.J. Moore, D'Andre Swift, Keenan Allen, and Rome Odunze. Expectations were understandably high. Nobody could've imagined it would get this bad. The offense is one of the worst in the NFL and Williams has been sacked an ungodly 38 times in nine games.

No stat sums up how bad it's been than the one Kevin Fishbain of The Athletic revealed. Since Matt Eberflus arrived in 2022, Bears quarterbacks have been sacked at least six times in a game seven times, including nine in Sunday's loss to the New England Patriots. Such a mind-blowing number rests on two core issues: the offensive line and the coaching. Poles built one and hired the other.

Ryan Poles can't hide from these failures anymore.

He had a golden opportunity to fix both problems this off-season and chose not to. He kept Eberflus for a third season, arguing the team improved down the stretch in 2023. His only investments on the offensive line were a cheap free agent center (Coleman Shelton), trading for a backup guard (Ryan Bates), and drafting an injured left tackle (Kiran Amegadjie) in the 3rd round. It was bargain shopping. Poles has spent only one pick in the top two rounds of the draft on an offensive lineman.

That, more than anything, tells the story. Now, Ryan Pace did get to hire a second head coach despite three losing seasons. There are reasons to think Ryan Poles will be afforded the same opportunity. He drafted Williams. He should get the chance to see his development through. Then again, history hasn't always been kind to GMs who get to hire a second head coach after their first flopped. Pace hired Matt Nagy. Dave Caldwell hired Gus Bradley and Doug Marrone. Dave Gettleman hired Pat Shurmur and Joe Judge. Joe Douglas hired Adam Gase and Robert Saleh.

Poles isn't guaranteed anything, nor should be be.