Caleb Williams didn’t want to join the Chicago Bears. He knew he would likely be the #1 overall pick in the 2024 draft. Once it became clear the Bears would hold that spot, he and his father researched the organization. It didn’t take long to realize it was an alarming setup for any young quarterback. Chicago has been a place where the position has sat in purgatory for years. Everybody from Rex Grossman to Jay Cutler, Mitch Trubisky, and Justin Fields never got the support structure they needed to thrive. Why should Williams want to walk into that? To convince the Bears to avoid him, he considered every possible alternative, including a holdout similar to John Elway and Eli Manning. GM Ryan Poles refused.
Things weren’t looking good, but then Williams had a change of heart. He eventually embraced the idea of being the one to turn the franchise around and write a new chapter at quarterback. How is that possible? According to NFL Notifications, it came down to Poles. He had a candid meeting with Williams where they discussed the Bears’ obvious history. They already addressed the concerns with the coaching staff. As it turns out, Williams wasn’t the only one who had them.
Poles did too.
“IF YOU WANT ME, COME GET ME.”
– Caleb Williams
When Caleb Williams came to Halas Hall in Spring of 2024 for his initial visit with the #Bears, he wasn’t convinced they were the best fit for him.
Caleb’s initial meeting was with Ryan Poles. The Bears GM broke down the… pic.twitter.com/yVdXl4Xalg
— NFL Notifications (@NFLNotify) May 16, 2025
Ryan Poles asked Williams to trust him.
If the report is true, and there are additional rumors to suggest it is, then he knew he couldn’t fire Matt Eberflus last offseason. That likely stemmed from the Bears’ solid finish to the 2023 season and ownership’s unwillingness to fire a head coach before at least three seasons. However, he knew the following offseason would present solutions. Several prominent offensive minds like Ben Johnson, Kliff Kingsbury, Kellen Moore, and Liam Coen would be available. If Williams could just survive one season with Eberflus, the organization would reorient the staff to fit his needs in 2025.
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That is exactly how it played out. It wasn’t pretty. Williams took 68 sacks and was subjected to some of the worst coaching malpractice in franchise history. Still, he made it through all 17 games and had a pretty good statistical year, all things considered. Ryan Poles went into the offseason with a plan. After thorough research, he knew Johnson was the guy Chicago needed. He was also somebody Williams liked. The two sides came together on a deal, followed by a massive offensive investment in free agency and the draft. This setup is now one of the best a Bears quarterback has ever had on paper.
If it works out, Poles’ ability to see the future will be seen as a pivotal moment in Bears history.