While the first couple of years were a bit rough on Chicago Bears general manager Ryan Poles, he is really starting to come into his own and gaining the respect of everyone. Mostly.
NBC Sports writer Patrick Daugherty shared his rankings of the best general managers in the NFL. Poles found himself ranked 14th on the list.
"Whereas football fans like to daydream their team is only one move away from changing everything, the reality is almost always more complicated. “Almost always” because while this is typically a sticks-and-stones business, every once in a single transaction really does change everything. For the Bears, that appears to be GM Ryan Poles’ 2025 hiring of head coach Ben Johnson. It is difficult to overstate Johnson’s impact on this franchise. He not only immediately solved his near-term goal of stabilizing franchise quarterback Caleb Williams, he put the Bears far ahead of schedule on their long-term goal of returning to playoff relevance. It wouldn’t have been possible without Poles’ spring 2025 offensive line spending spree, but you don’t need to be an NFL insider to recognize Johnson’s impact. By definition, things were quieter this offseason, but fan expectations are now so much louder. This is where it needs to be mentioned the Bears overachieved in 2025. They had only the third best point differential in the division they won, and lived off skin-of-their-teeth victories. No one will be surprised if they regress one more time before taking a more permanent step forward. Poles should survive next offseason in that scenario, but life can be tough for unsung GMs opposite hot-shot head coaches. Take Poles’ now former division rival Kwesi Adofo-Mensah’s word for it."
Ryan Poles is way outside the top 10 of the best GMs in the NFL
Where Poles has excelled over the years is in his drafting. He has made some great selections like Darnell Wright, Caleb Williams, Rome Odunze, Luther Burden, Ozzy Trapilo, Colston Loveland, Kyle Monangai, and Dillon Thieneman. His selection of Monangai should be highlighted, as he was picked in the seventh round last year and became an instant contributor in Year 1.
Even the trades that Poles has made since 2023 have worked well for him. When he traded for DJ Moore and then traded him away, both really helped the Bears in draft picks and set them up to get Williams and Odunze. Last offseason, Poles traded for Jonah Jackson and All-Pro guard Joe Thuney, solidifying one of the best offensive lines in the NFL last year.
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Poles may not be perfect all the time, but he has made massive strides to build one of the top young rosters in the league and has a bright future that hopefully ends with a Super Bowl.
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