In the wake of Matt Eberflus‘ firing, Ryan Poles’ status briefly became a talking point. The latter is nevertheless set to remain in place as general manager of the Bears through the team’s upcoming head coaching search. 
“Ryan Poles is the general manager of the Chicago Bears and he will remain the general manager of the Chicago Bears,” president Kevin Warren confirmed on Monday (via ESPN’s Courtney Cronin). “I am confident in Ryan. My belief is strong in Ryan.”
[RELATED: Latest On Bears’ Play-Calling Changes]
Warren noted that Poles – in place since 2022 – will be Chicago’s “point person” during the process of finding Eberflus’ replacement. The Bears went 14-32 with Eberflus at the helm, and a distinct lack of success in close games played a key role in the decision to make the franchise’s first in-season coaching change. Poles specifically mentioned the handling of late-game situations as being a factor in Eberflus’ firing (h/t Adam Jahns of The Athletic).
Poles’ tenure has featured a rebuilding effort at a number of positions, including the decision to reset under center this offseason. Justin Fields was traded away before Chicago used the No. 1 pick (acquired in a blockbuster trade with the Panthers the previous spring) on Caleb Williams. The rookie’s play this season has been up and down, but it has shown signs of improvement since Thomas Brown took over as offensive play-caller. Brown is now interim head coach, and strong reviews from within the organization could give him a realistic chance at landing the full-time gig.
Still, the Bears will of course look at outside candidates as well. A long list of staffers with an offensive background could be on the team’s radar over the coming months, and to no surprise Poles named (via Cronin) a development plan for Williams as a central aspect of any candidates’ chances of being hired. Helping Williams reach his potential will be crucial as the Bears look to find stability at the QB spot and elsewhere in the organization.
Questions have been raised about whether or not Warren is truly leading the way for the Bears in terms of key decisions. During his Monday remarks, Warren did say (via Ian Rapoport of NFL Network) that Poles will have the final call on the upcoming head coaching hire. That decision will nevertheless be a collaborative one this winter with Chicago looking for a long-term solution on the sidelines.
Brad Kragthorpe!
He’s done such a fantastic job so why not?
Chicago needs all the top 10 picks in future drafts it can muster.
Had to do a double-take on that one. I scrolled past so quickly the first time, I could’ve sworn it said “Ryan Leaf to be Bears HC”
I don’t see a win coming in the Bears next 5 games, so count Thomas Brown out.
Let’s check it out:
-@San Fran – winnable, especially due to CMC’s injury
-@Minnesota – they just took them to OT, but that was in Chicago
-Detroit – just played them down to the wire and that was in Detroit. A better coach than Eberflus at least takes them to OT. Probably a loss but who knows
-Seattle – winnable
-@Green Bay – lost on a blocked FG at home to them. Green Bay may also have nothing to play for depending on the playoff scenarios
I think Chicago could take at least two of these games. Three or more and Brown should get serious consideration.
Packers are 9-3. Why would they have nothing to play for??
Playoff spot clinched, rest the starters
@papad57: “Packers are 9-3. Why would they have nothing to play for??”
I said “depending on playoff scenarios”. If they’re locked into whatever seed they’re in, they might rest their starters and not care about the game.
I could see 0-5 or 4-1. The team had been complaining since training camp about Waldron & Eberflus, so it’s been a long time coming. I could see their Defense playing a lot more aggressively & their running game improving. Caleb is the wildcard, we may be closer than we think to when he begins dominating games.
Bears being the Bears.
Poles will select the new HC.
Poles gets fired b/c new HC can’t get team turned around fast enough.
Now, nobody’s in the building who was involved in the decision to draft Williams, so he’s out the door.
Draft new QB, but new QB can’t save HC, so HC is gone again…
Clueless is what you are
Why? He’s just explaining how the Bears have operated since the 80s.
Really it’s been a long time since the Bears were good
@pt57 Yes. Rinse and repeat.
whens the baloney comin off that f-in slicer?!
Musturd.. Hate and repeat.
The Bears make it easy. Losers on the field. Loser franchise. I’d be embarrassed to be a fan. George Halas would puke if he was alive to see what’s happened to his team. Chicago deserves better. I actually respect the fans.
If you take away the robbery of the only franchise more incompetent than Chicago, Poles would be thought of worse than Pace.
I don’t think he’s as incompetent as Pace was but a GM who can’t find an upgrade for a 40 year old TE doesn’t exactly inspire a lot of confidence in me.
40 year old tight end is only good for TE3 on the depth chart or maybe a TE4 who would provide chemistry and leadership in the locker room on a sure fire contender
Injuries can force a HC to go deep into the depth chart so a GM always needs to be looking at upgrades for those backup positions too.
Nowhere near the incompetence. Pace and draft picks didn’t mix. A day 1 or 2 pick was like a hot potato in Pace’s hands.
Everett was a way more expensive waste than Lewis. Lewis was cheap, Everett might be gone. I don’t know off the top of my head what it would cost to get rid of him.
Will cost the Bears $1M to save $5.5M when they cut Everett. He gone!
It worked so well the first time, why not do it again. That’s why the Bears always suck. They repeat the same mistakes over and over.
Wow they’re finally going to do things right. I guess eventually if you wish long enough the light bulb WILL go on. Hooray. We’re finally going to do things in the right order. I think I might cry.
There are restrictions on when a Bears fan can cry Mike…our tears are needed to keep Lake Michigan full.
I didn’t get that memo. I’ve been crying for 2 1/2 years watching Eberlose play acting at being a HC. Not playing anybody in the pre season games when they needed the reps, Saying that practice is just as good way to get experience as games, Explaining stupid moves he made and trying to sound like he had a plan. I did feel a little sad when he did that last press conference but not for him. For the fact that I thought he actually was gonna keep coaching. But that’s when the tears stopped and the sun came out. But then they ruined that by putting way too much on Brown for him to be good at helping Williams. I hope he’s smart enough at delegating to have someone help him with the in game decisions so he can stay focused on the offense.
That does explain the rising salt levels in the Great Lakes
lol imagine if they got Lincoln riley
It would only be fitting if the Bears won enough games down the stretch to land in the 12-15 range of the draft and muddy the waters thinking Thomas Brown is a valid head coach.
What could go wrong with this strategy? Poles gets fired in 2025? A new GM tolerates the 1-year HC for a 2nd year before moving on? Williams gets 3 different coaching staffs in 4-seasons?
Maybe this will work.
There are alot of established HCs out there, Vrabel, BB, Pete Carroll (all D minded who the Bears dont want because they want to develop Williams). And some coordinators who “might” be good HCs like Ben Johnson or Brian Flores. Problem is you dont know if they’re good until 3 seasons on the job. But Bears could’ve hired Jim H or Sean Peyton, but nah, stick with a rookie HC and continue the merry-go-round of hiring cheap coordinators who fail, turn over the roster, then rinse and repeat. Count on them to make the bad pick again.