Ryan Poles faced questions about his job security amid the team’s search for a head coach this offseason, but the fourth-year general manager just got the biggest endorsement of all: from ownership.
Poles has reached an agreement on a contract extension eight days out from the start of training camp.
His new deal ties him to Bears head coach Ben Johnson.
Bears GM Ryan Poles Agrees 3-Year Contract Extension
Bears All About Ben Johnson-Ryan Poles Union
Poles was not entering the final year of his deal, but the Bears may have gotten ahead of any potential speculation with this decision.
That the deal aligns so well with Johnson is key.
“ESPN sources: the Bears and general manager Ryan Poles have reached agreement on a contract extension that ties him to Chicago for the next five years, through the 2029 season. Poles had two years remaining on his old deal, but now the Bears have him and new head coach Ben Johnson both under contract for a matching five seasons,” ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported on X on July 11.
“Since being hired in 2022, Ryan Poles has overseen a full-scale rebuild in Chicago — highlighted by the blockbuster trade of the No. 1 pick in 2023 to Carolina, which helped position the Bears to land Caleb Williams the following year. Poles also hired Ben Johnson this offseason, signaling a new era of Bears football built around its franchise quarterback.”
That both of their deals extend two years beyond Williams’ rookie deal, one with the fifth-year option, is even more noteworthy.
Williams was the No. 1 overall pick, and selected by Poles, who passed on opportunities to select Bo Nix, Bryce Young, C.J. Stroud, Drake Maye, J.J. McCarthy, Jayden Daniels, Michael Penix Jr., and an extended list of non-first-round QBs for the Heisman Trophy winner.
It is up to Williams to deliver on Poles’ faith, given all that the GM has surrounded him with, including Johnson.
Ryan Poles Has Remade Roster
The Bears are 15-36 under Poles’ direction, and they took a step back in 2024 from 2023. Johnson may be the key to unlocking a step forward for the Bears in 2025, but it is Poles’ work to build up the roster that will make it happen. By giving Poles an extension, the Bears are essentially putting their faith in the Poles-Johnson combo over tying the GM to his QB.
Perhaps most notably of all, Williams is Poles’ first attempt at drafting a “franchise quarterback” after he inherited Justin Fields from predecessor Ryan Pace. Notably, Pace also received an extension after his third season.
The Bears fired Pace in January 2022, but that was also the end of his extension.
Johnson is inheriting Williams, but he said the QB was key in his decision to join the Bears. Poles invested heavily with various resources and avenues to remake the roster he took over. Three players, Cairo Santos, Cole Kmet, and Jaylon Johnson, remain from the 2021 squad.
Poles also hired the top offensive, if not overall, head coach candidate available, and has a former No. 1 pick at QB. The Bears’ next double-digit-win season will be their first since 2018.
Results must follow, lest the Bears face a similar line of questioning that has become part of a vicious cycle for the franchise.