On January 10th, 2022, the Chicago Bears fired GM Ryan Pace. Most people thought the news came from the usual suspects like Adam Schefter, Ian Rapoport, and Tom Pelissero. Those who paid attention would’ve seen it come from a lesser-known stalwart of the local Bears blogging community. Jeff Hughes of Da Bears Blog went on the Irish Bears Network podcast, revealing that the team was parting ways with Pace. It became official not long after. Well, Hughes had an update on Thursday regarding Pace’s replacement, Ryan Poles.
From what he’s gathered, nobody around the league believes the Bears will fire the embattled GM. This falls in line with what others like Schefter and Albert Breer have indicated in recent days.
While many Bears fans won’t like this, it’s not overly surprising. Pace had only 14 wins during his first three years with the team. Ownership kept him anyway, letting him go after another head coach. He landed on Matt Nagy. Though that tenure ended in disappointment, it did result in the only partnership to deliver a winning record over a four-season span since the 2000s.
Everything pointed to George McCaskey keeping Ryan Poles.
Remember that the team chairman was so taken with the young executive that he personally picked him up from the airport. There have been no indications that trust has wavered. Yes, Kevin Warren might have a greater presence in the decision-making now, but it remains McCaskey’s decision. The only way something changes is if ownership becomes so enamored with a head coaching candidate, but that man isn’t eager to work with Poles. Only then might something shift. This scenario is a long shot.
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Ryan Poles seems to have survived the ax. Even so, the pressure on him is greater than ever before. This upcoming head coach search is probably the most important in decades. Unlike previous ones, it feels like the team has the makings of a legitimate franchise quarterback in Caleb Williams. If Poles’ mere presence costs them a chance at the best candidates, the McCaskeys may go down as the most hated owners in Chicago sports history.
The Pace versus Poles comparison is apples and oranges. Pace bloated rhe cap and traded draft picks to try to win. He was a product of Loomis in NO. Pace came with a plan to tear down the roster, get the cap back under control, and build from the draft. Three short years later, he has pretty much accomplished these thing all while being assigned a HC from the family.. Do we need to start stacking wins? Yes. Unfortunately, we are now in the toughest division in football which isn’t going to help. I am absolutely willing to give him… Read more »
Don’t worry, by this afternoon the article will be out that Poles will likely be fired.. then by tomoro morning no way he’s fired. It will go back n forth until there is an actual outcome. The good news is the season ends Sunday and we at least get to enjoy (and hate some of course) to hear about HC interviews. Thankfully that is right around the corner.
@barry_mccockiner – Is Kirk Cousins your pro comp to Caleb Williams? In what reality? That weed you’re hitting must be laced with some pretty powerful hallucinogens. Kirk Cousins is a statue, even before the achilles, with limited to no mobility. Caleb Williams is quite an athletic quarterback, and that gets him in trouble with holding the ball for too long. Kirk Cousins was one of the most accurate passers pre-injury. Caleb is not there yet. 2 years ago, MN was in a very similar situation they are in now. They won a ton of one score games with Cousins in… Read more »
I remember hoping Poles would make the team and be our RG. Didn’t happen. I am not an apologist for the guy because I’ve stated numerous times I don’t think he knows how to build a team or judge talent. I can only try to see the reasoning for leeway was the horrible state of our franchise when he was hired regarding the CAP and lack of draft picks. The only thing worse than taking a WR in the top 10, would be to trade up even more to take a WR. Personally, I like Gordon, Wright, Terell Smith, and… Read more »
Let’s get this straight. Ryan Pace had a winning record over his last 4 years as GM. It clearly wasn’t good so he was rightfully replaced. After year 3, poles owns a 14-37 record with 14 and 11 game losing streaks. This is not deemed replaceable? Go Bears!!!