The conference championships are over. Super Bowl LVII is set. The Philadelphia Eagles return after a five-year absence with almost a wholly remade roster. Meanwhile, the Kansas City Chiefs make their third appearance in four years behind the greatness of quarterback Patrick Mahomes and defensive lineman Chris Jones. Andy Reid will get to face his former team on the grandest stage. Brothers Travis and Jason Kelce face off on opposite sides. There are so many cool stories behind this matchup. Yet one fanbase that should be ecstatic about it is the Chicago Bears.
That might sound odd, considering their team is on the opposite side of the spectrum, holding the worst record in the NFL. To understand the logic, you only need to look at the two men in charge. GM Ryan Poles was a prominent member of the front office that built that Chiefs AFC dynasty, having a direct hand in picks like Mahomes and Kelce. Then there is his right-hand man, assistant GM Ian Cunningham.
Before joining the Bears, he was a top member of the Eagles' front office. He was involved in several roster decisions that got them to this point, from signings like Javon Hargrave to draft picks like Jalen Hurts, DeVonta Smith, and Landon Dickerson and trade acquisitions like Darius Slay. These two men have seen how great organizations construct great rosters. Now they run the show in Chicago.
The Chicago Bears plucked from the right organizations.
Both Poles and Cunningham were highly-touted executives noted for their intelligence. They both have a clear vision of how to build a roster. Early signs suggest they know what they're doing. The 2022 Bears draft class wasn't flashy, but it definitely overachieved. Kyler Gordon had three interceptions. Jaquan Brisker led the team with four sacks. Velus Jones ranked near the top of the NFL in kick return average. Braxton Jones started every snap at left tackle. Even Trenton Gill was their starting punter.
If that weren't enough, several undrafted rookies, such as Jack Sanborn, Jaylon Jones, and Josh Blackwell, made significant contributions. If the Chicago Bears can get that much out of a draft class that had no 1st round pick, it's hard not to wonder what they can do with the #1 overall pick this April. There is no predicting the future. Still, for the first time in ages, it feels like the Bears finally have the right men in charge. If they apply what they learned in Kansas City and Philadelphia, this team could be really good within the next couple of years.
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