Kevin Warren immediately debunks maddening rumor about Bears' HC search

In addressing reporters for the first time since the Chicago Bears made the decision to fire head coach Matt Eberflus on Friday, team president Kevin Warren confirmed that not only is Ryan Poles' job as general manager safe beyond this season but Poles will be leading the search for the team's next head coach.

One of the leading rumors that has surfaced in the days since the Eberflus firing was that Warren may be taking a more hands-on approach with the Bears' football operation. In that approach, the thinking was that Warren would be the one to lead the Bears' search for a new coach with Poles assisting in the background.

Debunking that rumor was one of the first talking points that Warren had with reporters on Monday. For the first time since becoming the Bears' head coach following the 2021 season, Poles will indeed have full autonomy over hiring his handpicked head coach. When Poles was first hired by the Bears, it seemed that the organization--through an outside consultant--handed the first-time general manager of list of candidates that included Eberflus, Dan Quinn, and Jim Caldwell. Poles was pushed in the direction of Eberflus.

From start to finish, Poles will now be in charge of leading the search for Eberflus' replacement. To that end, it is reassuring that the Bears are not using an outside party to lead the search. The past two times the Bears have used the likes of Ernie Accorsi or Bill Polian to find a new head coach, it led to the disastrous hiring of Eberflus and John Fox.

With entrusting Poles to lead the search, Warren may also be setting the stage for the general manager's undoing. If Poles whiffs on the head coach hire like he whiffed with the decision to bring back Eberflus last January, the general manager will quickly find himself out of a job.