Nothing else has sparked more genuine debate regarding the Bears since ... whatever the last debate was.
There are so many of them so often it's hard to remember.
GM Ryan Poles' contract extension through 2029 lit up social media with everything from hate messages to pats on the back for a job well done by the organization and GM.
It's safe to say everything Poles has done seemed to resurface during this on-going fan rant, both positive and negative.
Ryan Poles only selling point is hope. That is almost exclusively based around falling into the two most obvious acquisitions that any exec would make. Caleb and Ben.
Everything else has had underwhelming at best results and his process undoubtedly hindered Caleb. pic.twitter.com/ALM9WDBwa3
— Michael Gus (@MichaelGus57) July 12, 2025
The overriding opinion is the roster is stocked and it's good he has Ben Johnson's guiding hand to keep him from fouling it up. However, the Bears have thought they were on the verge of success numerous times in the past.
It's true, Poles had to dig the Bears out of a deeper ditch than many GMs did, such as Minnesota's Kwesi Adofo-Mensah. The salary cap situation put before Poles when he took over looked like a nightmare because of Ryan Pace's spending in free agency and pushing prorated guarantees off into the future. He played with the cap and finally it blew up on him.
Say what you want about the #Bears record since Ryan Poles has become GM.
This might just be the best roster + staff the team has had in 20+ years 🐻⬇️
Can’t wait to see what this team can do 🔥 pic.twitter.com/moVzVXIXgz
— SleeperBears (@SleeperBears) July 11, 2025
Then again, other GMs face such circumstances and cope without gutting the roster.
A Joel Corry "agent's take" column written for CBS more than a decade ago in 2014 listed the Steelers, Saints, Cardinals, Patriots and 49ers as teams with the worst cap situations.
Drafting the best QB of the 2024 class and a lineman to protect him was a good idea. Thank you for saying that.
— Adam Rank (@adamrank) July 11, 2025
A Joel Corry "agent's take" column written for CBS more than a decade ago in 2014 listed the Steelers, Saints, Cardinals, Patriots and 49ers as teams with the worst cap situations at that time.
The Patriots won three more Super Bowls and made the playoffs every year until Tom Brady left for Tampa despite being on that list. The Steelers were in the playoffs eight times after that story. The Saints always have been in cap hell it seems and went to the playoffs four straight years after the story.
5 more years of Ryan Poles with this extension. hopefully 5 more years of excellent drafts & trades. and never another mistake like Eberflus (and the ego that kept him employed too long). What do you all think? #bears pic.twitter.com/Lc8UnMhLVm
— Brenda (@BrendaJWebber) July 11, 2025
That column also called the Cowboys irresponsible with the cap but Dallas made it three of the next five seasons after the column.
What he wrote was true but teams find ways to cope that don't include gutting the roster. They have to make good draft picks and sign good players. They simply don't gut the roster. Poles did it, though.
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
Adofo-Mensah found a way in Minnesota without doing what Poles did with the cap and the Vikings have a playoff berth and a division title in the last three years.
The Bears had 15 wins and 36 losses in that time.
I understand matching him up on the same timeline as Ben Johnson. But Ryan Poles hasn’t done enough to warrant a contract extension. He’s had garbage teams for the past 3 seasons and hired a the worst coach in Franchise History AND doubled down on him. Not well deserved https://t.co/HgarWRwhVh
— Camfrey15 (@cameronDwinfrey) July 11, 2025
If Poles had been successful with shrewd draft picks and free agent signings, perhaps the debate among fans wouldn't have been as intense as it has been since the signing.
However, he's had far too many misses in all aspects of the job. To compare Poles' performance to baseball, teams tolerate .200 hitters because they hit home runs. Poles is coming up with singles, the occasional double and sporting a .190.
Ryan Poles did absolutely nothing to get a contract extension.
— RoccoBaldelliGOAT (@roccoBdelli) July 11, 2025
No Pro Bowl players and the top 100 player lists are not littered with his draft picks. He finally extended one of his own players in Kyler Gordon, but it's too soon to be too critical in this regard because Gordon was in his first draft class. Others will be extended in future years, and maybe Jaquan Brisker if his health holds up.
Other moves he made invited scorn but also some were logical.
15-36 Overall
3-15 vs. NFC North
4-21 On the Road
4-20 vs. Playoff Teams
If we’re being honest, Ryan Poles doesn’t deserve to be extended now. However, it makes sense to put him on the same timeline as his new head coach and your new quarterback. Historically, this is… pic.twitter.com/TcVsTMCjWe
— JAY🤘🏽🐻⬇️ (@Directhim) July 11, 2025
He traded and avoided risky pick Jalen Carter before drafting Darnell Wright. Maybe both players are going to pan out. The Justin Fields trade wasn't a moment of triumph because he had two seasons watching the Ryan Pace draft pick play without properly supporting him.
However, Fields' play in fourth quarters definitely didn't warrant his return. Getting a sixth-round pick in return for a starting quarterback seemed embarrassing.
Yesss, LOLLL nice to hear as a Packers fan. Bears still suckkkk
— The Big Cheese 🧀 (@PNav16) July 11, 2025
Poles' wins include acquiring DJ Moore and numerous picks for starters in the trade back that brought them Caleb Williams. However, he also passed on QBs C.J. Stroud and Jayden Daniels.
The signing definitely wasn't a missed opportunity for Vikings, Packers and Lions fans who remember Poles said the Bears would take the North and never give it back.
Confirmed division will remain dominated by Lions
— DetroitSportsPodcast (@DetroitPodcast) July 11, 2025
The move to keep Poles had fans of other teams laughing at the Bears. Opposing fans will do that anyway merely to taunt.
When the team hasn't had a winning season since 2018, though, such taunts cause more of a deep pain than a sting.
Ryan Poles was literally hired to rebuild the team. Of course his record isn’t going to be impressive but most of the moves he has made have been outstanding and beneficial to long term success for the franchise. Please go a be a fan somewhere else.
— maddie (@madswag4315) July 11, 2025
Whatever the case, the Bears have left themselves open to criticism now by putting the next five seasons in Poles' hands.
It's a big chunk of future devoted to someone with so little success in the past. All Poles has on his side is experience and Johnson as his head coach guiding him better than Matt Eberflus could.
Since their hirings in 2022
Kwesi Adofo Mensah:
• 34-17 record
• One division championship
• Two playoff appearances
• Hired the 2024 COTY
Ryan Poles:
• 15-36 record
• Finished or tied for last each year
• On second HC of tenure
Not even close. pic.twitter.com/N0aIV4BCIh
— Jason Harmon (@_jason_777) July 11, 2025
Bears fans have to hope Johnson takes one of Poles' hands and takes him in a more direct route to success than he has taken to date on his own.
It's a thought crossing the minds of more than a few Bears fans after they got over the initial shock of the agreement.
Why?
— Andrew Moser⚡️ (@Hellafire916) July 11, 2025
X: BearsOnSI