By JAKE FENNER, US SPORTS WRITER
Published: 07:24 EST, 25 February 2026 | Updated: 07:26 EST, 25 February 2026
Chicago Bears general manager Ryan Poles admitted that an NFL rule promoting the advancement of minorities in coaching and executive roles is 'strange.'
Poles joined the Bears from the Chiefs in 2022. Under a rule from the league, the Chiefs subsequently got two third-round compensatory picks because Poles is black.
This week, during the NFL Scouting Combine, Poles admitted he finds the rule odd.
'I'll be honest, I think it is a little strange,' Poles said. 'At the end of the day you should want to develop your staff regardless of the color of their skin.
'I think that's important. I think we take a lot of pride with the Bears in how we have our setup. I take a lot of pride in that, so to be compensated for that is a little strange.'
Poles added that it was confusing that the Chiefs got a pick when the Bears were the ones who hired him to the bigger position.
Bears GM Ryan Poles admitted to finding an NFL rule promoting minority hires 'strange'
When Poles was hired as the Bears GM, his former team - the Kansas City Chiefs - received a pair of compensatory third-round draft picks as part of an NFL diversity policy
The Bears are hoping to benefit from this rule after Ian Cunningham (above) departed the team in the offseason to take the vacant general manager role with the Atlanta Falcons
'I saw the Chiefs get a pick because of me and then I watch that player go and play, it's just a little odd,' Poles said.
'But at the end of the day if they think that's what's best to help incentivize, that's what they wanted to do.'
The Chiefs ended up using one of those picks to draft linebacker Leo Chenal. The other pick was used in a trade to acquire wide receiver Kadarius Toney.
Chicago is at the center of this rule this year because Ian Cunningham, a Black man, left the team to become the general manager of the Atlanta Falcons.
However, the Bears will not receive compensatory picks because the NFL views Matt Ryan, the Falcons' President of Football, as the team's primary executive.
While Poles doesn't agree with the rule, it appears that he hopes the league will change its ruling on Ryan and Cunningham's work dynamic to favor Chicago.
'At the end of the day, that's not the purpose of why we develop our staff, but if that's the rule they have in place, then I think it's very clear in this situation what should happen,' Poles said. 'But we'll see what they think.'
The Bears have their first-round pick for 2026 and will be selecting 25th overall.
Chicago Bears