(670 The Score) General manager Ryan Poles and the Bears have agreed to a contract extension, sources said Friday.
The extension will keep Poles under contract through 2029, Adam Schefter of ESPN reported, aligning him on the same timeline as new head coach Ben Johnson. Poles previously had two seasons left under contract before the new deal, ESPN reported.
Poles was hired by the Bears in January 2022 after spending 13 years with the Kansas City Chiefs. He quickly began a rebuilding plan by gutting the roster that he inherited from previous general manager Ryan Pace. The Bears went an NFL-worst 3-14 in Poles' first season, landing them the No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft.
Poles then dealt that pick to the Panthers in March 2023 for the Panthers' first-round pick in 2024, receiver DJ Moore and a haul of other draft capital. As Chicago showcased improvement by going 7-10 in 2023, Carolina's first-round pick turned into the No. 1 overall selection in 2024, which the Bears used to draft quarterback Caleb Williams.
Despite an improved roster in Poles’ third season, the Bears disappointed by going 5-12. Coach Matt Eberflus – whom Poles hired back in January 2022 – was fired in late November amid Chicago's eventual 10-game losing streak. It marked the first time in franchise history that the Bears fired a head coach in the middle of a season.
While Eberflus was fired, Poles received a vote of confidence from Bears management.
“I trust him,” Bears president/CEO Kevin Warren said in January. “And he's a hard worker, he's young, he's talented, he's curious. I think his greatest attribute, he's willing as he did just in the press conference to raise his hand and say here's some things where he fell short. He's as hard on himself more than anyone could be hard on him. And he strives every single day to do the right thing, and I think one of the things in life I encourage Ryan and others is to be self-reflective, which has been good. And I think that's one of the things I've noticed throughout the season.
“He's reflecting on what he can do to continually be the leader that I know he is, and he will continually grow to be a great leader. And he's passionate about it. He cares. He's not here just for all the accoutrements of being a general manager in the league. He wants to win. He loves this franchise. He's passionate about the Chicago Bears, and he's going to do everything he can.”
Poles was allowed to lead the team’s search for a new head coach, a process that tabbed Johnson for the job. Now the two have contracts with a matching timeline.
Chris Emma covers the Bears, Chicago’s sports scene and more for 670TheScore.com. Follow him on Twitter @CEmma670.