It's been quite a week for the Chicago Bears. Only one week into the offseason, and we've been given the gift of complete and utter confusion, dysfunction and, quite frankly, laughable material by way of some press conferences on Tuesday.
Listening to the likes of Ryan Poles, Kevin Warren and George McCaskey, it was difficult to garner any real vision and alignment between the three of them. As per usual, the pressers left us with more questions than answers, which isn't typically how those are supposed to go.
But, in Chicago? This is the norm.
One of the hottest topics, right now, is the Bears' head coaching job of course. And, one of the top candidates for the job is Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson. Many believe Johnson is a front runner for the gig. However, there may be some qualms when it comes to general manager Ryan Poles, the front office being truly aligned and even owner George McCaskey.
On the latest episode of the CHGO Bears podcast, known team beat reporter Adam Hoge had a lot to say about the potential of hiring Johnson as it pertains to Poles and his contract status.
Most notably, Hoge made a fairly bold prediction as for what could happen between Poles and Johnson.
A Ben Johnson hiring could directly lead to a Ryan Poles contract extension
"If they do hit it off and they are aligned after the interview process, that you probably will see Ryan Poles get a contract extension," Hoge noted.
Now, that would be something. It has been well-documented that, for the most part, we don't exactly know the status of Poles' contract. In a weird, secretive fashion, the Bears have kept Poles' contract details under wraps.
Nobody seems to know exactly how long his contract runs or if he received an extension at some point. It's very odd, to say the least.
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The latest information told us Poles' contract would run out after the 2025 season, meaning it was for a total of four years. If that's the case, then what Hoge is saying makes a lot of sense.
One of Johnson's criteria for taking a head coaching job was to have continuity between general manager and head coach, along with alignment in the front office. The Bears, of course, are a mark of dysfunction in that area.
So, if Poles and Johnson were to have a productive meeting and form a solid bond, it does make a lot of sense for the two to want to have more than just one year together at Halas Hall. It may even be Johnson's wish for Poles to get an extension so that the two of them can put together a plan that goes for longer than only one year.
This might not be what some Bears fans want to hear, but we could be seeing Poles stick around for much longer than originally anticipated. Now, if it means the team ultimately gets the right head coach and Caleb Williams becomes a star, then so be it.
If it all comes back to being worth it in the end, then let it be so.