One of the bigger concerns for Chicago Bears fans going into this month was the uncertainty around GM Ryan Poles. His first head coach had failed spectacularly, and word came out a few weeks ago that he'd signed a four-year contract, meaning he was going into 2025 on the last year of his deal. The fear became that no top head coach candidate would want to work with him because they knew there was a chance he could immediately be out next year, leaving them in the lurch.
However, Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune gave an update that changed things. He explained on 670 The Score that Poles is believed to be under contract through 2026. That means he has two years left on his deal, not one. While he isn't in direct alignment with new head coach Ben Johnson, it offers more of a cushion for the two to forge a partnership without fear of an immediate change if things don't go well immediately.
Ryan Poles will be able to prove he has learned from his mistakes.
Sometimes, young general managers must suffer some early failure before getting on track. That was true of Jerry Angelo. His first three 1st round picks were all flops. Marc Colombo couldn't stay healthy. Michael Haynes was a bust. Rex Grossman never reached his potential. There were also the ill-advised signings of Chris Chandler and Kordell Stewart in free agency. Still, he eventually got better at finding good players, eventually getting the Bears to a Super Bowl in 2006.
The good news is Ryan Poles seems to have done better than Angelo in the 1st round. Darnell Wright, Caleb Williams, and Rome Odunze all look like good players. The trick is improving his hit rate with fewer outright whiffs. There is a belief he's planning an adjustment in scouting strategy, wanting to focus more on established players and less on upside projects. No doubt Johnson will play a prominent role in this. If things go well, Poles can expect an extension in the near future.
