Overview

• Ownership extended general manager Ryan Poles’s contract by three years beyond its original term, tying his tenure to that of rookie head coach Ben Johnson.
• Poles’s tenure since 2022 has featured bold roster moves, including trading the 2023 No. 1 pick for DJ Moore and using the 2024 top selection to draft quarterback Caleb Williams.
• His rebuild has produced a 15-36 record and two consecutive last-place finishes in the NFC North, drawing questions about the franchise’s progress.
• Team president Kevin Warren publicly endorsed Poles’s vision, highlighting his consistency and willingness to swing for the fences in free agency and the draft.
• The Bears bolstered their roster with veteran offensive linemen Joe Thuney, Jonah Jackson and Drew Dalman plus new receiving options to support Caleb Williams in Year Two.