Praise for Ben Johnson
Warren and McCaskey were asked for their opinions on head coach Ben Johnson through his first several months on the job.
"Coach Johnson is everything we had hoped for, everything we had planned for and then some," Warren said. "His leadership, his work ethic, his positivity but being realistic, his capabilities. He is an excellent planner, speaker, is diligent. He has a creative mind as you have seen from practice, and one of the greatest attributes is that he epitomizes what the Chicago Bears stand for – toughness and grit and attention to detail to carry forth the legacy that George Halas started and has carried through the McCaskey family."
McCaskey reiterated Warren's sentiments regarding Johnson's intangibles and noted the players' respect for their coach. The chairman also spoke about the intensity of Johnson's training camp practices.
"It reminded me of the good old days of two-a-days," McCaskey said. "You saw it getting a little chippy today with the joint practice. The guys are getting physical. I think that's an indication of how hard they're working."
Faith in Ryan Poles
Warren and McCaskey both have confidence in general manager Ryan Poles.
"Ryan will be the first person to tell you we don't have the results yet, but you can see him putting the building blocks together," McCaskey said. "His staff is strong. His leadership is sound. He's a great listener, he's a great leader, and we think he's a great talent evaluator, and we think that his partnership with Ben is going to bring Bears fans the winner they deserve."
"He is a world-class leader," Warren added. "He is talented. He is hard-working. He has a transformative thought process, which is critically important. I am thankful to the support of George McCaskey and the entire ownership group to be able to allow us to work that out with Ryan. And now to see the relationship that Ryan and coach Johnson have built allows us to have a chance to build a really good football team and a football program with two young leaders. I am grateful that Ryan is here as our general manager."
Honoring Mrs. McCaskey
The Bears will kick off the preseason this Sunday against the Dolphins at Soldier Field. It will be the club's first game since Virginia Halas McCaskey's passing.
George H. McCaskey shared an emotional response when talking about preparing for the family's first game without their matriarch.
"It'll be an adjustment. Sunday and next Sunday will help, because I think September 8, it will be difficult," McCaskey said. "But again, she showed us the way. Her leadership, her guidance, her direction have been invaluable, and we're all the beneficiaries of it."