Reports recently surfaced that the Chicago Bears are more likely than not to retain Ryan Poles this offseason. Both Adam Schefter and Albert Breer have been firm in saying this, and these are two of the more plugged-in national reporters so it is fair to trust the source of these reports.
However, it is interesting to wonder how much of an impact this will have on the hiring of Ben Johnson.
Will the Chicago Bears miss out on hiring Ben Johnson due to retaining Ryan Poles?
Johnson is reportedly interested in the Bears head coaching job. This interest stems largely from the idea that Caleb Williams is a great draw for any head coach. However, while Johnson is interested, he is not a lock to accept the position.
There have been reports earlier in the season that Johnson would want a team to have alignment between general manager and head coach as well as an organization that can admit flaws and be held accountable.
Nothing from the recent reports suggests that will be the case for the Bears. The Bears would have to decide to either extend Ryan Poles this offseason or have him operate as a lame duck with one season left on his contract. Johnson likely has options in mind for a general manager to work with and would not want to step into a spot where Poles is either there for one year, or has been there longer with a bit more authority than him.
All of this is to say that the Bears and Johnson may not be as aligned as many had thought. Another recent report came out suggesting that Johnson may prefer the Jaguars. They also have a talented quarterback, and they are more likely to fire their general manager. Perhaps the Bears caught wind of this and have pivoted, realizing that keeping Poles is smarter than firing him and possibly losing out on Johnson.