(670 The Score) Bears president Kevin Warren cleared up one question Monday as the organization is set to begin a coaching search.
General manager Ryan Poles will be the “point person” in the search, Warren said while adding the two will “work in tandem.”
“Ryan Poles is the general manager of the Chicago Bears, and he will remain the general manager of the Chicago Bears,” Warren said Monday at a press conference at Halas Hall with Poles by his side. “Ryan is young, he’s talented, he’s bright, he’s hard-working. He has done everything in his power on a daily basis to bring a winner to Chicago. And I’m confident in Ryan. My faith remains strong in Ryan, and as the leader of our football operations department and as our general manager, Ryan will serve as the point person … for our upcoming search for a permanent head football coach. Now, we will work in tandem. We will closely. We will work together on a daily basis to make sure that we bring the best person to the Chicago Bears as our permanent head football coach. You have our word on that.”
When pressed on who will have the final say in the decision on the next head coach if there's disagreement among Bears leaders, Warren indicated it would be Poles.
"We'll work that out," Warren said. "He's the general manager, he's the head of football operations, so he will have the final say if it ever got to that point. I'm confident we'll work through it."
The Bears fired head coach Matt Eberflus on Friday amid a six-game losing streak that has dropped Chicago to 4-8. Eberflus was 14-32 in three seasons with the Bears. Offensive coordinator Thomas Brown was then named the interim head coach.
Over the weekend, NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport suggested that Warren will lead the Bears’ search. On Monday, Warren emphasized that Poles will front it.
Who actually makes the final decision may remain a mystery, but Warren proclaimed it will be an “exhaustive search.”
“It will be organized,” Warren said. “It will be diligent. We will do it the right way.
"This will be the most coveted job in the National Football League this year."
Asked if the Bears will use a consultant or a search committee in the upcoming hiring process, Poles responded that decision wasn't finalized but that he expects to "lean on us," a reference to himself, Warren and other leaders in the organization.