The storylines coming out of a massive win over the Dallas Cowboys keep coming for the Chicago Bears. There are plenty of ties between the two teams which fans are still talking about, including that of former Bears head coach Matt Eberflus.
But, this isn't about the Cowboys. This is more based around a player Eberflus once brought to Chicago on a free-agent deal. In 2022, the Bears signed defensive end Al-Quadin Muhammad after he posted a career-high six sacks with the Indianapolis Colts the previous year. He, of course, had a relationship with Eberflus from their time together in Indy.
After just one season, though, Muhammad was cut loose as he had managed to post only a single sack in 16 games. Now, three years later, Muhammad is thriving with the Detroit Lions.
In Detroit's huge win over the Baltimore Ravens on Monday Night Football, Muhammad tallied 2.5 sacks on Lamar Jackson and was a monumental part of their pass rush.
Al-Quadin Muhammad is another example of a miss by Ryan Poles and a bigger problem
Thus far, Muhammad has 3.5 sacks with the Lions in 2025. It's early, but he is pacing to shatter his career-best mark of six. Detroit has embraced Muhammad, and they've needed him, especially with Marcus Davenport out with an injury.
Poles' ineptitude when it comes to scouting talent is obviously questioned by many, but this has gone beyond just the players on the field. Eberflus was not the right coach for this team, but Poles hired him anyway. Thus, the Bears endured nearly three seasons of mediocrity thanks to their former head coach.
Poles hired Eberflus. He brought Muhammad in. He was also responsible for a coach like Shane Waldron being allowed in Halas Hall. All of this happened under his watch.
We could go on and on about mistakes Poles has made over the years and why he never deserved to sniff another contract in Chicago, but here we are, having watched the Bears extend him this past offseason.
Muhammad's success is great for any football fan to see. He didn't even play in 2023, and before the Lions called him back for this year, he was quite literally sitting at home. It's a great success story; a story of redemption.
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It's also a story that paints Poles and the Bears negatively, but we're used to that.