The Chicago Bears 2022 offseason got off to one of the most discouraging starts fans can remember. While most were thrilled the team finally cut loose GM Ryan Pace and head coach Matt Nagy, their enthusiasm was immediately killed when they watch George McCaskey’s press conference following the announcement. It was a disaster in every sense of the word. Over the course of an hour, McCaskey used the late Jeff Dickerson’s death to chastise Bears fans, called Olin Kreutz a liar, and call himself “just a fan” rather than the team chairman of a football franchise. It was so, so bad. Everybody knew it, including his longtime right-hand man Ted Phillips.
Now the team president isn’t immune from criticism himself. Phillips has been part of several bad football decisions over his two decades in charge. However, even he understood how ugly the optics were coming out of that presser. So much that according to Jeff Hughes of Da Bears Blog, the two had a minor confrontation about it shortly afterward. Enough to where McCaskey left the building.
“Ted Phillips and McCaskey had a heated conversation, as the club’s president made clear to its oblivious owner just how bad the press conference had gone. Then, McCaskey left Halas Hall, leaving Ted alone to discuss the GM candidates with the hiring team and organize their schedules. (Ted didn’t leave the building to well after midnight. McCaskey was not in contact.)”
You know it’s bad when Phillips himself had to say something.
Needless to say, the Bears’ hunt for a new regime was not off to a good start. While McCaskey took time to cool off, the search moved forward with consultant Bill Polian leading the way. He was given free rein to ask most of the football questions with Phillips jumping in only for Bears-related ones. McCaskey was part of every interview but mostly stayed out of the way, still not feeling it was his place to interfere. All of that soon changed though.
“Ted encouraged George to get more actively involved. George resisted, again not believing it was his place to do so.
Then, something changed.
The Bears interviewed Ryan Poles.
A text came to me minutes after the interview concluded. “They love Poles. George especially.”
Soon after, news broke that the Minnesota Vikings were going to bring in Poles for a second interview the following Wednesday. McCaskey went to Phillips in something of a panic. He wanted to know if they were in danger of losing his candidate of choice. Phillips told him they were. Within a few hours, the Bears had scheduled Poles for his second interview on Tuesday, a day before his scheduled visit to Minnesota.”
Everybody knows what happened next.
The evening before the interview was scheduled, Poles arrived at O’Hare Airport. When he got to the baggage claim, he was met with a stunning sight. There was McCaskey, wearing a Bears jacket, to pick him up personally and drive him to Halas Hall. It was one of the most surreal moments Poles had ever seen in his entire football career. A moment where he realized the kind of person McCaskey was and how much the Bears mattered to him. It was also the first time that showed the man taking charge of a situation before. The first time he acted with conviction.
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Ted Phillips deserves credit for doing the right thing
Somebody had to tell McCaskey how bad that press conference was. How dangerous it could be towards souring what little goodwill they had left with Bears fans. George had played the role of the affable chairman who was just another big fan long enough. The time was long past due for him to start acting like a proper owner. To his credit, McCaskey listened to his friend and business partner. He took charge.
There is no telling if Poles will be a success or not. Yet from his own opening press conference, one thing is clear. The young GM believes he is ready and has a clear vision for what he wants the Bears to be. A team that Ted Phillips and others have tried to champion for a long time. Fast, physical, tough, gritty, and smart. A throwback team with a modern twist that Chicago can be proud of. If Poles ends up a success, people should not forget it was Phillips that helped put the wheel of his hire in motion.
