INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. (670 The Score) — Through countless hours of research, phone calls and due diligence, Bears general manager Ryan Poles formed a belief that Ben Johnson should become his next head coach. A virtual interview on Jan. 11 strengthened that feeling.
Ten days later, the Bears officially hired Johnson in what represented a pivotal moment for Poles' tenure and the franchise, as it reinvigorated hope for a struggling organization.
On Sunday, Poles and Johnson arrived in Indianapolis as part of a large Bears contingent on hand for the NFL Combine. It marked the start of a significant week in a critical offseason for the team’s future and the first one led by Chicago’s new tandem.
“We’re just cooking on along,” Johnson said of his dynamic with Poles.
Johnson has maintained a busy schedule since Jan. 21, when he first walked into Halas Hall as the new head coach of the Bears. He has hired a new coaching staff and conducted countless meetings with Poles and his front office staff.
In those conversations, Johnson has articulated his vision for the Bears’ roster and scheme. He has done so in the context of how Poles has constructed the roster over the past three seasons.
Last Friday, the Bears released tight end Gerald Everett and defensive end DeMarcus Walker. On Tuesday, Poles indicated those two players weren't clean fits for Johnson and new defensive coordinator Dennis Allen.
In his three years as Detroit's offensive coordinator, Johnson was the type of assistant who made his voice known in personnel decisions, Lions head coach Dan Campbell said. That was one of many reasons that Poles was drawn to hire Johnson.
“We talked about this a lot just within the search, having a clear vision, having a clear vision of what every single position needs to have,” Poles said. “Now, it's never going to be perfect. You can't have like a prototype at every single position. But as a front office, we want to be as close as possible with that. So, his ability to really give a clear vision of what he wants and needs to be successful has been really, really good. And you can just tell the high football IQ is on a totally different level than what I've seen and been a part of before, so it's really good.”
In explaining how he built his new coaching staff, Johnson proudly pointed out that he didn’t hire his friends. He wanted assistants from different football backgrounds, schemes and styles who could challenge him. That wasn't the approach Poles took when he first came to Chicago.
Poles’ top lieutenant is assistant general manager Ian Cunningham, who joined the Bears shortly after Poles was hired in January 2022. The two had a long-established friendship that dated back years. Poles then hired Matt Eberflus as his first head coach in Chicago, and the two shared an agent.
Johnson and Poles never worked together prior to this union with the Bears. They don't share an agent and had never previously worked for the same team.
Poles has embraced it all as a positive development. When Johnson declared the Bears should get “comfortable being uncomfortable,” that message applied to the front office just as it did to players.
“We all come with unique experiences from where we have been,” Poles said. “Where you learn different things about specific characteristics of players, usage of players – even when you look at the draft and players come from different backgrounds and different schemes, how does that project to the league. A lot of great conversations with been as well as the entire staff.”
The Bears endured a miserable 5-12 season in 2024 in which they fell well short of lofty expectations. Chicago had a 10-game losing streak that derailed its season, and head coach Matt Eberflus was fired in late November. Poles used the in-season dismissal as an opportunity to begin his coaching search.
Johnson was the Bears’ top candidate all along, checking every box as Poles went through his process. Johnson's arrival has inspired hope at Halas Hall despite what occurred last season.
With free agency looming in several weeks, the Bears boast north of $74 million in salary cap space, the fourth-most of any team in the NFL. They also own the No. 10 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft and a pair of second-round selections. Those resources represent the opportunity to reshape the roster significantly in the coming months.
With Johnson at Poles’ side, the Bears believe they’re positioned to break through this time.
“I can't speak highly enough about Ryan Poles and his staff,” Johnson said. “I've been able to sit in on some of their draft evals so far and to see how well that machine's clicking. It's just rolling on along. It's very impressive to see.
“Whatever way you go with it is your way, and I feel really good about the voice that not only I have but the rest of the coaches are going to have in terms of picking these players.”
Chris Emma covers the Bears, Chicago’s sports scene and more for 670TheScore.com. Follow him on Twitter @CEmma670.