Alignment has been the buzzword in the Chicago Bears media lately. This stems from the organization’s stubborn inability to line up its three most important positions: GM, head coach, and quarterback. This hasn’t been something they’ve been able to achieve for years. The closest they came was in 2017 and this year when the GM, who hired the head coach, drafted a quarterback. Unfortunately, the coach was fired after only one season in both situations. Now it appears the Bears are about to do it again, with GM Ryan Poles entering the off-season with only one year left on his contract.
Many are convinced this is a death sentence for the Bears, believing a lame-duck GM would virtually ensure none of the top candidates would want anything to do with their head coaching job. However, not everybody has that perspective. Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune spoke with an executive from another team. He believes Poles’ contract situation might be a quiet advantage for the Bears.
Poles will have to be candid with someone he’s trying to hire, and when I wondered aloud during a chat with a personnel man for another team if Poles’ contract length could make the Bears undesirable, he went the other way.
“Not necessarily,” he said.
In fact, he said, it could make the job appealing. Take the job. Get to know Poles and his staff. Get a feeling for the dynamics in the building and see where the relationship goes. In the event it doesn’t work out, provided the coach remains on steady ground, he probably would have a strong say in the selection of the next GM.
“That’s pretty attractive, I think, to a high-level candidate,” the personnel man said.
Recent reports suggest they plan to meet with top candidates. Once they determine which one they like the most, a conversation will be had about whether that coach and Poles can work together. If so, the GM may receive a contract extension. However, if the coach isn’t willing to commit to a long-term relationship, the Bears can basically use 2025 as a trial run. If things go well, Poles can be extended after the season. If not, the team will be free to seek out a replacement. Likely somebody the coach knows or is familiar with.
It is an interesting perspective that makes sense. The tricky part is whether prospective coaching candidates have the big-picture mentality to think that far ahead. Some are only focused on the season ahead. Ryan Poles no doubt faces two challenges over the next month. Not only must he find the right leader for the franchise, but he must also sell that person on his qualities as a GM. Kevin Warren and George McCaskey made it pretty clear they’re not in a rush regarding his contract situation. The ball is in his court, but the clock is winding down.
