If Bears GM Ryan Poles survives this season, he will have Caleb Williams to thank

LAKE FOREST, Ill. – In the Chicago Bears locker room at Ford Field in Detroit – not long after cornerback Jaylon Johnson and other players spoke out in an explosive scene that would ultimately lead to the firing of Matt Eberflus – general manager Ryan said Poles He put his arm around quarterback Caleb Williams and said something in his ear.

Whatever was expressed in that private moment seemed to energize Williams. He replied with a smile. Before the Poles left the locker room to get to the team bus, Williams quickly chased after him and when he caught up, they shared another moment.

On Thursday, four days after an uninspiring road loss to the San Francisco 49ers, Williams explained why he believes in the Poles during his weekly press conference at Halas Hall. Their relationship has grown this season.

“The fact that he cares about us, the Chicago Bears, and wants to win is why I trust in him and believe in him and make sure we do it right,” Williams said.

When the Bears finally get their quarterback in Williams, will Poles – the GM who drafted him – be given the opportunity by the franchise to find the right coach for him?

With four games left in the season, the answer appears to be yes, regardless of how many more red flags were raised during the Bears’ loss to the 49ers. The NFL head coaching cycle began this week with Bill Belichick deciding that taking over the University of North Carolina football program was a better option for him than waiting for the Bears and other teams to decide what that was for them is best.

“This year, college kind of got closer to me,” Belichick told reporters during his introductory press conference. “I wasn’t necessarily looking for it.”

The Poles report to President/CEO Kevin Warren, but the Poles’ firing still requires approval from Chairman George McCaskey. He’s the one who hired Poland in 2022 after an extensive search effort with the support of Bill Polian, the Hall of Fame’s executive director.

Is McCaskey really ready to give up the Poles after three seasons? He famously met Poland at baggage claim at O’Hare International Airport after Poles was hired in January 2022. McCaskey drove his own car to pick him up. He parked on the White Sox level of the parking garage.

“I wanted to show him that we cared about him,” McCaskey said later.

The process that led to the Poles was one of which McCaskey was extremely proud at the time. Former Bears president Ted Phillips and Polian held influential roles, but McCaskey was also more involved than in previous searches. McCaskey also decided to bring Tanesha Wade, who is now the team’s executive vice president of diversity, equity and inclusion and chief impact officer, and Lamar “Soup” Campbell, the Bears’ former vice president of player engagement, into the process.

Go deeper

How does the Bears’ situation for Caleb Williams compare to other teams with rookie QBs?

The Bears relied on Polian’s contacts throughout the league. Thirteen candidates were interviewed, including four who later became GMs for other teams: Omar Khan (Steelers), Joe Schoen (Giants), Ran Carthon (Titans) and Kwesi Adofo-Mensah (Vikings).

The final decision rested with McCaskey.

“At the end of Ryan’s second interview at Halas Hall, we walked around the room and it was unanimous,” McCaskey said on January 31, 2022. “I was impressed by Ryan’s intelligence and confidence, his direct manner and his plan to make an impact .” the bears back. In the end the decision was easy for me.”

It won’t be surprising if Bears chairman George McCaskey (right) sticks with GM Ryan Poles because of his involvement in his hiring. (Michael Reaves/Getty Images)

But it doesn’t seem easy to fire him, which is understandable. McCaskey, as part of his plan, allowed the Poles to demolish what Ryan Pace had built, resulting in a 3-14 record in 2022. Expectations only changed before this season. The optimism felt at the start started with Williams – and he is here because of the Poles. His decision to trade the first pick in the 2023 draft to the Carolina Panthers cost GM Scott Fitterer his job, but could save the Poles’ spot in Halas Hall despite this season’s events.

With a little luck (and special thanks to former Bears coach Lovie Smith and the Houston Texans), the Bears were able to select Williams with the first pick in this year’s NFL Draft with Carolina’s selection. The decision was easy for the Poles.

McCaskey attended the Bears’ interview with Williams at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis.

“What struck me, I think, is that it was 10:40 at night and he was remarkably gregarious, engaging and friendly,” McCaskey said in March. “When football came along, he was exactly right.”

With bears, history always repeats itself. In 2018, Pace was allowed to conduct his own head coaching search for his first-round quarterback Mitch Trubisky, despite posting a 14-34 record in three seasons with John Fox. Pace also received a contract extension.

It shouldn’t surprise anyone if the Poles, who started on a four-year contract, are offered the same opportunity in 2025, despite his teams only having 14 wins so far.

Go deeper

Caleb Williams’ physical and mental strength stands out as the Bears crumble

On Thursday, Williams began adding players to the Bears’ roster because of the Poles, from trading for receiver Keenan Allen to draft receiver Rome Odunze to extending cornerback Jaylon Johnson and signing running back D’Andre Swift in free agency .

“Go ahead with a list of people,” Williams said. “He did a good job.”

Receiver DJ Moore, right tackle Darnell Wright, cornerback Tyrique Stevenson and punter Tory Taylor are also on the roster as a result of this blockbuster trade with the first pick in 2023 after further draft pick maneuvers by the Bears, who still have the Panthers’ second pick -All-rounder in 2025.

But it is Williams – and only Williams – who should be seen as the Poles’ saving grace if he receives an extension from the Bears and serves as Warren’s so-called “point person” in the team’s search for its next head coach.

The wins aren’t there, but Williams is having a better rookie season than Trubisky and Justin Fields. There are several reasons for this, but Williams’ flashes of talent and individual success, which now includes a record-breaking streak of no interceptions, should encourage McCaskey.

And he’s here because of the Poles.

McCaskey will remember that — along with the fact that he hired him.

(Top photo: Quinn Harris / Getty Images)