The Chicago Bears have locked in general manager Ryan Poles with a contract extension running through 2029, according to a league source confirmed by The Athletic. Poles, who took over the franchise reins in 2022, now has his future tied to newly hired head coach Ben Johnson through the rest of the decade.
A Rough Stretch Leads to Major Changes
The Bears haven’t exactly been lighting up the scoreboard lately. Their 15-36 record across three seasons tells the story of a franchise that’s been searching for answers, with back-to-back cellar finishes in the division. The writing was on the wall for former head coach Matt Eberflus, who got his walking papers right after Thanksgiving. That left Poles holding the bag on finding a replacement – a search that eventually landed Johnson in the Windy City.
Warren Backs His Guy
While the Bears aren’t spilling details about what Poles’ new deal looks like money-wise, team president and CEO Kevin Warren made his feelings crystal clear during April’s NFL league meetings. Warren couldn’t stop singing Poles’ praises, particularly when it came to how well he and Johnson have clicked right out of the gate. That chemistry has apparently injected some much-needed optimism into Halas Hall heading into the new season.
Syncing Up for Success
With Poles now officially their guy, the Bears made sure to line up his contract timeline with Johnson’s – a smart move to avoid any front-office uncertainty down the road. It’s a clear signal that 2025 expectations have shifted, especially coming off a five-win season that saw plenty of growing pains under the previous coaching staff.
Chairman George McCaskey didn’t mince words about why Poles earned this vote of confidence. He’s been impressed with Poles’ leadership chops and the quality team he’s assembled around him, including assistant GM Ian Cunningham and director of player personnel Jeff King – both guys the organization considers real finds. McCaskey gets that personnel decisions come with inherent risks, but he’s betting on Poles maintaining a solid hit rate when it comes to talent evaluation.
The Big Moves That Defined Poles’ Tenure
Perhaps no single decision better captures Poles’ approach than his bold move to trade away the 2023 No. 1 overall draft pick. That wheeling and dealing netted the Bears some serious talent: wide receiver DJ Moore, right tackle Darnell Wright, cornerback Tyrique Stevenson, plus the ammunition to grab quarterback Caleb Williams with the top pick in 2024.
Williams paired with Johnson represents what Chicago hopes is finally the quarterback-coach combination they’ve been chasing for what feels like forever. Poles hasn’t stopped there, though. He’s been busy shoring up the offensive line by bringing in starting guards Joe Thuney and Jonah Jackson through trades, while also landing Pro Bowl defensive tackle Grady Jarrett to bolster the defense.
The contract extension game has been strong under Poles’ watch too. He’s managed to lock up key pieces like defensive end Montez Sweat, cornerback Jaylon Johnson, tight end Cole Kmet, along with Moore, Thuney, linebacker T.J. Edwards, and his first draft selection, cornerback Kyler Gordon.
Echoes of the Past
This extension strategy isn’t exactly breaking new ground for the Bears. Back in 2017, after showing John Fox the door, the organization gave then-GM Ryan Pace a contract bump despite his 14-34 record. That move came right before Pace brought in Matt Nagy as the new head coach – a decision that didn’t exactly pan out as hoped.
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