Report: Chicago Bears Announce Ryan Poles As New GM

Ryan Poles will be announced as the Bears’ new GM.

Most analysts were expecting the Bears to make a move to fill their openings at head coach and general manager sometime this week, and they’ve locked up Poles, who was also being courted by the Vikings.

Ryan Poles has now accepted the job, source said. He’s the #Bears new GM. https://t.co/kMWsq2R0fb

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) January 25, 2022

Poles met with the Bears today and was picked up at O’Hare airport last night by McCaskey himself. It was his second interview with Chicago.

Poles interviewed Friday and became a finalist for the Bears’ job after the Vikings requested a second interview, so it’s safe to assume McCaskey wanted to have the 36-year-old fully vetted to block any potential move to a division rival. The Chiefs executive was also one of three finalists for the Giants G.M. job that went to Joe Schoen. Poles was also heavily recruited during last year’s GM cycle.

Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer appeared on ESPN 1000’s Kap & J. Hood and indicated he believed that Poles would be announced by McCaskey sometime today.

“I think Ryan Poles might be the next domino to fall,” Breer said.  “The Bears, right now, are in a situation where, if they let him get on the plane to Minnesota, there’s a possibility they lose him to the Vikings. …I think there’s a possibility that Ryan Poles is the new general manager of the Chicago Bears by the end of the day on Tuesday.”

The Bears haven’t officially released a list of head coach finalists but bringing Dan Quinn back for a second interview means they are obviously impressed with him. Jim Caldwell is in town today, too, and McCaskey may want to pair him with Poles. The fact that McCaskey rushed Poles back to Chicago so quickly could mean a head coach announcement is coming soon.