The only conclusions to be gathered from how the Bears have given Ryan Poles a contract extension is they really, really, really love Ben Johnson or else owner George McCaskey is feeling a ton of guilt right now.
Or perhaps both.
This must be the case because the Bears have gone out on a limb and given Poles a deal through the 2029 season even though this team has gone 15-36 during his time as GM.
If they were that bad on the field with talent Poles has acquired but it isn't his fault, there must be another reason they're losing. He also was the one who hired Matt Eberflus to coach them, then had to fire Eberflus, and it would seem with this extension they are pinning all blame for three miserable seasons on the former coach.
The Bears are a Ryan Poles design problem.
Not just a poor coaching problem.
The guy who hired Eberflus must also be held accountable. https://t.co/H4WxdFbwuf pic.twitter.com/j50UuhKe1u
— Trey Daubert (@treydaubert) November 29, 2024
However, it was McCaskey and executive-for-hire Bill Polian who interviewed coaching candidates and handed their top three to Poles so he could choose between Dan Quinn, Matt Eberflus and Jim Caldwell. Poles chose Eberflus, the coach with the same agent he had, and the rest is losing history.
Perhaps this is McCaskey admitting they were the ones responsible for Eberflus as coach and not Poles—or possibly that he was responsible for talking Poles into keeping Eberflus after two losing seasons when they might have pursued Jim Harbaugh or even Ben Johnson.
Any Bears fan upset at the Chicago Bears extending Ryan Poles can’t be mad when that’s literally what Ben Johnson wanted. 😭
Organizational alignment was key in bringing in Ben. pic.twitter.com/Qpf0maNmvw
— Bearsszn (@bearssznn) July 11, 2025
With only 15 wins in three seasons to show for Poles' efforts, and without a single Pro Bowl player coming from the three draft classes he has who have actually played so far, there is no real reason to say Poles has been a success and deserves more time unless the powers that be feel they are actually responsible for what has happened since Poles came to Chicago.
Because, it sure hasn't been pretty the last three years. It hasn't looked like they are stocking a chest full of talent that's just waiting to explode onto the field with repeat titles. Apparently they feel Poles has done this, though and gave him the money.
Great move for the Bears locking up Ryan Poles. He's rebuilt the roster. Now Poles, Ben Johnson and Caleb Williams have time to lead the Bears to the promise land.
— Adam Rank (@adamrank) July 11, 2025
Poles has initiated successful trades, like the one that gave them DJ Moore and picks to select Darnell Wright, Tyrique Stevenson, Caleb Williams and Luther Burden III. He brought in Montez Sweat, Joe Thuney and Jonah Jackson via trades. But he also traded for Chase Claypool and Keenan Allen.
They signed free agent successes like T.J. Edwards and Kevin Byard.
Mike in Park Ridge is puzzled by the Bears giving Ryan Poles a contract extension.
"The idea that the arrow is pointing in the right direction because they hired (Ben) Johnson to be the coach is the most inexplicable reason to extend a (GM) who's shown you nothing but failure." pic.twitter.com/lXly1LNggZ
— 670 The Score (@670TheScore) July 11, 2025
They have also drafted Velus Jones Jr. in Round 3, Zacch Pickens in Round 3 and made Tremaine Edmunds their most expensive free agent signing only to see him produce on a so-so level. Then there was the Nate Davis fiasco. Enough said about that one
Of course, no Bears tale is complete without quarterback failure. Caleb Williams hasn't had much chance to prove himself. He now apparently knows about watching film. He'll get chances for winning and watching film correctly this year with Johnson as coach.
The Chicago Bears are so stupid. Why is Ryan Poles getting an extension when he should have been fired?https://t.co/VnpfZStx7h
— Jared Stillman (@JaredStillman) July 11, 2025
But it still doesn't hide the fact Poles could have drafted C.J. Stroud or Jayden Daniels, and both won NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year while his quarterbacks the last two years had a combined 83.82 passer rating. Meanwhile, Stroud's rookie rating was 100.8, Daniels' 100.1.
The Bears haven't drafted a Pro Bowl defensive tackle since Henry Melton in 2008 and haven't drafted an edge rusher who made the Pro Bowl for them since Richard "the Sack Man" Dent in 1983.
“yeah, they extended ryan poles for building a losing roster after losing roster” https://t.co/aZpzD6Lo1P pic.twitter.com/zMzESGN5sw
— CJ (@cj_a_yy) July 11, 2025
They had a good running back in David Montgomery and Poles didn't offer him enough to keep him from going to Detroit. He wanted to win, but Detroit hadn't won anything yet and cash talks. Now they need a good power back for Ben Johnson's attack. He's in Detroit.
They let Pro Bowl linebacker Roquan Smith leave and then signed Edmunds for only $2 million a year less.
People are going to hate on this but i have said it before and i will again, i love Poles.
He took over a team that had 80+ mill in dead cap, almost 60% of the roster hitting FA, a trash roster, no 1st rnd pick, 5 total picks and totally flipped the $, picks and roster https://t.co/9cvXLYSjVT
— Taylor Doll (@TayDoll1010xl) July 11, 2025
The list goes on and on. Every accomplishment Poles might have is countered by an N'Keal Harry trade, a Byron Pringle signing, or $10.4 million for Yannick Ngakoue and his four Bears sacks.
It's all enough to make you think perhaps they should have waited on this new GM contract until at least the bye in Week 4 to see that Johnson isn't ready to cut Williams and go with Tyson Bagent.
The Chicago Bears record underneath GM Ryan Poles:
2022: 3-14
2023: 7-10
2024: 5-12
Now under contract for 5 years. pic.twitter.com/8KCGkbZt00
— SleeperNFL (@SleeperNFL) July 11, 2025
There was so little to go off of after the first year when the coaching was so bad that no one can be sure what they have in their QB.
What the Bears can be sure of now is they're locked in through 2029 with Poles and Johnson together. And if this doesn't work out they should clean house, starting with those who own the house.
🚨INSANE🚨
The #Bears gave general manager Ryan Poles a 5-year contract extension, despite him statistically being one of the worst GMs in #NFL history
• Poles has a .275 winning percentage
• Zero playoff appearances
• Zero division titles
• 15 & 36 record
• 2x last place pic.twitter.com/Q2eSAAI33C
— MLFootball (@_MLFootball) July 11, 2025
X: BearsOnSI