The reaction from fans and media to the announcement from Chicago Bears team president Kevin Warren that GM Ryan Poles would lead the upcoming search for a new coach wasn’t met with enthusiasm. This is the same man who only needed 24 hours to determine Matt Eberflus was the right man for the job three years ago. No evidence suggests Poles has learned anything from that colossal mistake. This is before you get into the other concerns. Among the biggest is the fear that top coaching candidates may not wish to pursue the Bears’ job since they sense Poles’ stance within the organization is shaky.
He is entering the final year of his contract and has encountered lots of dysfunction during his time in charge. As enticing as the head coaching job is, some guys may not want to risk their careers on him. A source has informed SM that the initial reception from potential candidates to working with Poles has been icy. Most aren’t wild about the idea. Only two, Minnesota defensive coordinator Brian Flores and former Titans head coach Mike Vrabel, have no issues with it. This is no surprise since Flores was a college teammate of Poles at Boston College, and Vrabel worked with him in Kansas City before retiring as a player.
The biggest sticking point is George McCaskey. Chicago’s team chairman is resistant to any idea of firing the GM. It shouldn’t be a surprise since he hired Poles personally in 2022. Firing after just three seasons would be a bad look, and McCaskey is known for being loyal (and stubborn) about his executives. That means if the Bears want to lure the candidate they want most, it will take a strong sales pitch from the GM and Warren to assure the coach that they understand the mistakes made and are prepared to enact the necessary changes so they don’t happen again.
Much of it may depend on how much power the Bears are willing to give the coach, particularly on the personnel front. Ryan Poles is known for being flexible regarding the preferences of his coaching staff. That was true with Eberflus. This could end up becoming a key part of the sales pitch. Chicago could also do what they did with Ryan Pace in 2018, signing him to a contract extension so that candidates understand he’s not going anywhere regardless of what happens next season.
Otherwise, the franchise may have to work hard to sway McCaskey that removing Poles is the best decision if they want their ideal coach.
