The Chicago Bears named three finalists for the GM position over the past few days. However, it doesn’t seem as if two of them will even get their second opportunity to make their case. After picking up Ryan Poles from the airport on Monday night, it seems George McCaskey has heard everything he needs to hear. A deal is being finalized to make the Kansas City Chiefs director of player personnel the next general manager of the franchise.
This is a bold decision by McCaskey. Poles is only 36-years old. Now the youngest GM in the NFL. It is a situation that feels all too familiar to what happened with Ryan Pace back in 2015. Especially with him having a background with just one organization. That said, Poles is significantly different from Pace. Namely, because he worked under three different GMs since joining the Chiefs back in 2009. He got an education in several different ways to run an organization. Something Pace never enjoyed.
Bears are finalizing a deal to hire Chiefs’ Assistant Director of Player Personnel Ryan Poles as their next general manager, per league sources.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) January 25, 2022
And so it comes full circle: Ryan Poles signed with the Chicago Bears as an undrafted free agent coming out of Boston College.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) January 25, 2022
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This isn’t a good hire by the Bears.
This is an incredible hire by the Bears.
This franchise is in GREAT hands with Ryan Poles leading the way going forward. https://t.co/aD4yLGH8eG
— Field Yates (@FieldYates) January 25, 2022
Ryan Poles to Bears as GM, fantastic move
— Jay Glazer (@JayGlazer) January 25, 2022
On Poles.
There were five members of this committee. All five ranked Poles their top candidate. That’s how good his interview was.
Bears got their man.
— DaBearsBlog (@dabearsblog) January 25, 2022
One thing is clear. Poles has a lot of fans in the scouting community.
His track record is hard to match. The man played a central role in helping the Chiefs build their AFC dynasty with names like Travis Kelce, Patrick Mahomes, Tyreek Hill, and Chris Jones among many others he helped draft. If that weren’t enough, Ryan Poles actually spent some time in Chicago as an undrafted free agent back in 2008. Considering the fact he intentionally took a second interview with the team despite knowing the Minnesota Vikings wanted to offer their GM job? It says a lot.
The big question moving forward is what Poles will do at head coach. Various insiders have opinions on where it could go. Dan Graziano of ESPN believes Dan Quinn is the front-runner. Adam Schefter believes it might be Jim Caldwell. Albert Breer on the other hand suggests keeping an eye on Matt Eberflus and Brian Flores. A lot will depend on what McCaskey does. The feeling is if he makes the call, it will be Caldwell. However, if he acquiesces to Poles, then the feeling is Quinn might be the man to beat.
Stay tuned.
