If the Chicago Bears were looking for reasons why Ryan Poles shouldn't return as a general manager after this season, all they need to read is the scathing details that Dan Wiederer had in the Chicago Tribune.
Wiederer had an in-depth look at the decisions that Poles has made as the Bears' general manager over the last three years and while there is some encouraging signs, the article is filled with self-inflicted wounds for Poles.
Beyond revealing that Matt Eberflus was not forced on Poles, Wiederer had some alarming details on the general manager's decision to sign Nate
Davis. Beyond citing sources that confirmed Davis earned the reputation of being a "bad teammate" during his time with the Bears, Wiederer reported that Poles ignored warnings about signing the veteran offensive line from people within Halas Hall.
"It didn’t help that Poles signed Davis despite in-house warnings from the coaching staff that he had a reputation for being apathetic and lacking the kind of football passion Poles normally gravitate toward," Wiederer wrote.
This is becoming a theme for Poles' regime with the Bears. How involved Poles' was with the vetting of Eberflus isn't clear but Wiederer's report also claimed that the Indianapolis Colts were set to fire Eberflus as a defensive coordinator before the Bears hired him as a head coach.
Add in that Poles' grossly misevaluated the hiring of offensive coordinator Shane Waldron and there are some serious concerns about his role as general manager moving forward.
Ryan Poles' mistake-filled history has him on shaky ground
The bad is beginning to outweigh the good for Poles during his time as general manager of the Bears. The trump card, and perhaps the reason Poles will keep his job following this season, is the idea that he got the quarterback position right in Caleb Williams. However, if Poles is allowed to make this head coach hire and misses on his selection, there will be no justification for keeping him in the organization.