LAKE FOREST, Ill. — In the Chicago Bears’ locker room in Ford Field in Detroit — not long after cornerback Jaylon Johnson and other players spoke up in an explosive scene that would ultimately lead to the dismissal of Matt Eberflus — general manager Ryan Poles put his arm around quarterback Caleb Williams and said something in his ear.
Whatever was uttered in that private moment seemed to energize Williams. He responded with a smile. Before Poles exited the locker room for the team bus, Williams quickly chased after him and, when he caught him, they shared another moment.
On Thursday, four days after an uninspiring loss against the San Francisco 49ers on the road, Williams explained why he believes in Poles during his weekly news conference at Halas Hall. Their relationship has grown this season.
“The amount that he cares about us, the Chicago Bears and wanting to win is why my faith is in him and believing in him and making sure that we get it right,” Williams said.
If the Bears finally have their quarterback in Williams, does Poles — the GM who drafted him — get the opportunity from the franchise to find him the right coach?
With four games left this 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-coach cycle started this week with Bill Belichick deciding that taking over the University of North Carolina’s football program was a better option for him than waiting for the Bears and other teams to decide what’s best for them.
“College kind of came to me this year,” Belichick told reporters during his introductory news conference. “I didn’t necessarily go and seek it out.”
Poles reports to president/CEO Kevin Warren but firing Poles would still require approval from chairman George McCaskey. He’s the one who hired Poles in 2022 after an extensive search run with the assistance of Bill Polian, the Hall of Fame executive.
Is McCaskey really ready to give up on Poles after three seasons? He famously met Poles at baggage claim at O’Hare International Airport after Poles was hired in January 2022. McCaskey drove his own car to get him. He parked in the White Sox level of the parking garage.
“I wanted to show him that we care,” McCaskey later said.
The process that led to Poles was one that McCaskey was extremely proud of at the time. Ted Phillips, the former Bears president, and Polian held influential roles, but McCaskey was also more involved than he had been in previous searches. McCaskey also decided to include 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, in the process.
GO DEEPER
How does Bears’ situation for Caleb Williams stack up to other teams with rookie QBs?
The Bears relied on Polian’s contacts around the league. There were 13 candidates 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 belonged to McCaskey.
“At the conclusion of Ryan’s second interview at Halas Hall, we went around the room and it was unanimous,” McCaskey said on Jan. 31, 2022. “I was impressed with Ryan’s intelligence and confidence, his direct manner and his plan to bring the Bears back. In the end, it was an easy decision for me.”
It won’t be surprising if Bears chairman George McCaskey, right, sticks with GM Ryan Poles because of his involvement in hiring him. (Michael Reaves / Getty Images)
But firing him doesn’t appear to be an easy one, which is understandable. McCaskey allowed Poles to tear down what Ryan Pace had built, which resulted in a 3-14 record in 2022, as part of his plan. The expectations only changed before this season. The optimism felt at the outset began with Williams — and he’s here because of Poles. His decision to trade the first pick in the 2023 draft to the Carolina Panthers cost GM Scott Fitterer his job, but it could save Poles’ place at Halas Hall despite what has transpired this season.
With some luck (and a 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. It was an easy decision for Poles.
McCaskey sat in on the Bears’ interview with Williams at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis.
“The thing that impressed me is I think it was at 10:40 at night and he was remarkably gregarious, engaged and friendly,” McCaskey said in March. “When they got down to football, he was right in it.”
History always tends to repeat itself with the Bears. In 2018, Pace got to run his own head-coaching search for his first-round quarterback, Mitch Trubisky, despite having a 14-34 record in three seasons with John Fox. Pace received a contract extension, too.
It should surprise no one if Poles, who started with a four-year contract, is afforded the same opportunity in 2025, even though his teams have produced only 14 wins so far.
GO DEEPER
Caleb Williams’ toughness — physical and mental — stands out as Bears crumble
On Thursday, Williams started to list players on the Bears’ roster because of Poles, from trading for receiver Keenan Allen to drafting receiver Rome Odunze to extending cornerback Jaylon Johnson to signing running back D’Andre Swift in free agency.
“Keep going on with a list of people,” Williams said. “He’s done 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 that blockbuster trade involving the 2023 first pick after more draft-pick maneuvering by the Bears, who still have the Panthers’ second-rounder in 2025.
But it’s Williams — and only Williams — who should be considered Poles’ saving grace if he gets an extension from the Bears and acts as Warren’s so-called “point person” during 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 did. There are several reasons for that, but Williams’ flashes of talent and individual success, which now includes a record-setting interception-free streak, should encourage McCaskey.
And he’s here because of Poles.
McCaskey will remember that — along with the fact that he hired him.
(Top photo: Quinn Harris / Getty Images)
