Overview

• The Bears announced on July 11 that Poles’s deal now runs through the 2029 season, with reports from NFL Network and ESPN confirming the terms.
• Poles’s tenure is now synchronized with rookie head coach Ben Johnson after both agreed to matching five-year contracts.
• Since arriving in 2022, Poles has driven a major roster overhaul, trading the 2023 No. 1 pick for DJ Moore and selecting Caleb Williams with the 2024 top choice.
• Ownership’s backing arrives despite three consecutive losing seasons and vocal fan calls for leadership changes, even as Poles bolstered the offensive line with veterans like Joe Thuney.
• Poles faces a pivotal 2025 campaign to validate the extension and demonstrate progress in the long-term rebuild initiated under his regime.