LAKE FOREST, Ill. (104.3 The Score) – Bears assistant general manager Jeff King is one of the longest-tenured members of the team’s football operations department, having started as an intern with the organization in 2015.
King was initially hired by then-general manager Ryan Pace and has earned promotions into the No. 2 role alongside current general manager Ryan Poles. During King’s 11 years with the Bears, he has worked in two front office regimes, scouted players for four different head coaches and endured the struggles of a franchise that had gone 15 years without a playoff win before a breakthrough 2025 campaign.
It’s that history that made the Bears’ success last season so rewarding for King. It was a key sign of progress in the Bears’ rebuild, which has been guided by Poles and received a jolt from head coach Ben Johnson’s hiring in 2025. The Bears ascended from worst to first in the NFC North in going 11-6 and winning the division last season.
"I’ve seen lows, I’ve seen highs, been in the middle and the fact that we can steady the ship and be part of being a consistent winner here means a ton,” King said Tuesday. “I think it's one of the best football cities that you can be in when you’re winning, and that’s our charge to keep it there. But that doesn’t come easy. We have to reset, we have to restock, and we’re going to have to start over.”
Kings, who was promoted to the role of assistant general manager in February, understands the pressure to deliver in the NFL Draft remains high as the Bears look to continue their ascension. After all, he and the Bears know it’s a bigger challenge to stay on top than it is to climb there. The NFC North has seen all four teams win the division since 2021, showcasing the parity in the NFL, and each team in the division had a winning record in 2025.
The NFL Draft is crucial for the Bears to fulfill Poles’ original promise – “to take the North and never give it back,” as he said when introduced as general manager back in January 2022. The draft is the lifeblood of any successful organization.
The Bears hold the 25th overall pick, their lowest slot in the first round since 2011. That marked the last time Chicago won a playoff game before this past January. The Bears have drafted in the top 10 in the prior three years.
The Bears have dire needs to fill on defense. They’re looking to add an edge rusher, a defensive tackle, a safety and a boundary cornerback.
There’s a delicate balance to strike. The Bears want to address their holes, but they have to be wary of forcing picks at positions of need and missing out on the best player available. The Bears put added weight on the draft scale for players at key positions, but that won’t force them away from sound decisions, King said.
“At the end of the day, you’re not going to go wrong by taking the best football player,” King said. “I think we all agree with that.
“We’re going to take the best football player for now and the future.”
That approach paid off for the Bears in the 2025 NFL Draft. They selected receiver Luther Burden III at No. 39 overall – despite not needing another wide receiver – because he was the best player available. Burden showcased his talent as a rookie and earned more and more trust from the Bears as the season progressed. His emergence and the team’s belief in him then allowed the Bears to trade veteran receiver DJ Moore to the Bills in March, which landed Chicago a second-round pick and opened up much-needed salary cap space.
It was a prime example of how taking the best player available can create flexibility to help in other areas.
Remaining atop the NFC North will require strong drafting by the Bears in the years to come. That’s especially critical as they prepare to pay cornerstone players like quarterback Caleb Williams. Without rising young talent on the roster, the Bears’ window of contention will quickly close.
For those like King who have endured plenty with the Bears, the goal has never been to rise close to the top. It’s to get to the top and stay there.
Chris Emma covers the Bears and the Chicago sports scene for 104.3 The Score.
