Kevin Warren Has An Overlooked Reason To Fire Ryan Poles Too

Matt Eberflus is on borrowed time. Almost everybody agrees the Chicago Bears head coach will be fired at some point between Friday and January. Justin Fields is also likely done as well. He still hasn’t shown the consistency the team has looked for since he was drafted. The only lingering question is whether GM Ryan Poles will join them. His first two seasons have been disastrous. Eberflus was a poor choice for coach. Several of his notable roster additions also haven’t panned out. See Chase Claypool and Justin Jones. Yet some still believe the GM deserves another shot. That decision may come down to Kevin Warren.

The new team president is the one Poles reports to. So, it stands to reason he has the authority to make a chance with approval from ownership. While Warren has stated he has a good relationship with the Bears GM, he is also responsible for doing what is best for the organization. What Poles has built to this point isn’t working. Rebuild or not, this is a time when progress is expected. If anything, the Bears have slid backward. Continuity aside, there isn’t much happening that supports Poles.

Besides that, Warren has a good reason to consider a change.

Kevin Warren may soon be equipped to pursue a big fish.

The best GM in Bears history was Jim Finks. He’s also the only one they’ve ever hired with prior GM experience from his time in Minnesota and the CFL. After failing multiple times to land a quality first-timer, it might be time to try that avenue again. The key to such an idea is the incentive. What can the Bears offer that would lure a proven candidate to Chicago? Warren could be perfectly equipped for that challenge.

• Two potential top-5 draft picks with Caleb Williams as the prize
• Over $100 million in salary cap space
• Freedom to choose a head coach and quarterback

No GM could ask for a better setup. The only issue for Kevin Warren would be finding somebody who’d take the bait. Here are a few names worth pursuing.

Will McClay (Cowboys VP of Player Personnel)

While Jerry Jones still considers himself the GM of the Dallas Cowboys, many feel McClay is the actual brains of their football operations. Since 2017, when he became Vice President of Player Personnel, they have selected six eventual Pro Bowlers, including superstars Micah Parsons and Trevon Diggs. McClay has resisted overtures from other teams for years about GM jobs, feeling content in Dallas. This package from the Bears may likely be the best shot he will ever get.

Duke Tobin (Bengals VP of Player Personnel)

The son of Bill Tobin, a former Bears personnel executive who had a direct hand in their 1985 championship team. Duke Tobin has been considered the de facto GM in Cincinnati for over 20 years. He’s built nine playoff teams around three franchise quarterbacks: Carson Palmer, Andy Dalton, and now Joe Burrow. His eye for wide receiver talent alone is impressive. Prying him out of Cincinnati may be impossible with Burrow there, but maybe the wish to follow in his father’s footsteps may entice him.

John Schneider (Seahawks GM)

He was the architect of the 2013 Super Bowl champions and has rapidly rebuilt them over the past two years into yet another NFC contender. Schneider’s eye for talent is beyond reproach. Four of his draft picks could end up in the Hall of Fame one day. The idea of leaving Seattle seems unlikely. Then again, one must not forget two key factors. Pete Carroll is 72 years old. His time in the NFL won’t last much longer. They also don’t have a true franchise QB in Geno Smith. Schneider may not wish to stick around trying to hunt for replacements when the Bears can offer a fast lane.

Tom Telesco (Chargers GM)

Probably one of the most unsung general managers in the NFL. Telesco has run the Chargers since 2013. He’s consistently added Pro Bowl talent to their roster over that time, including a superstar quarterback in Justin Herbert. He has the blueprint on how to find one and build around him. The eye for talent is obvious. His primary challenge has been finding a head coach. Mike McCoy, Anthony Lynn, and Brandon Staley have all disappointed to varying degrees. Then again, Finks had the same problem.

Jason Licht (Buccaneers GM)

The architect of Tampa Bay’s 2020 Super Bowl championship team. Chicago had the chance to hire him in 2012. Sadly, they opted to go with Phil Emery instead. Two years later, the Buccaneers didn’t make the same mistake. Mike Evans, Chris Godwin, Vita Vea, Devin White, and Tristan Wirfs headline a string of excellent players the team has acquired since his arrival. Licht may soon face a rebuild, though. They have no clear solution at quarterback while several of their best players are getting older. Maybe Kevin Warren can correct the Bears’ original mistake.