Going 0-2 usually isn’t a cause for calling for people to get fired. However, the Chicago Bears are in a unique position. Their 27-17 defeat in Tampa Bay last Sunday was their 12 consecutive defeat dating back to last season. Matt Eberflus is 3-16 as head coach. Justin Fields is 5-22 as quarterback. Nothing about this operation looks promising. Even the defense, Eberflus’ baby, is still one of the worst in the NFL. People already believe those two are likely gone after this season, barring a major turnaround. The only question is whether GM Ryan Poles might join them.
Everybody knows the man inherited an old and aging roster when he took over in 2022. Poles had few assets to work with, so he made the difficult choice to start over. Darnell Wright represents the first player he’s gotten to select in the 1st round. It generally takes a few such picks to construct a competitive roster. Even so, he is the one who hired Eberflus. That decision doesn’t reflect well on him. Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune offered an update on the situation.
The sense he gets is that if changes are made, Poles has a good chance of surviving.
“I get the impression Warren probably will spend a year — or close to it, as he officially started in April — examining all facets of the team’s operation. My guess is he will have moves in mind, across a variety of departments, beginning in January or February. The focus is on football operations. Let’s recall that GM Ryan Poles and coach Matt Eberflus inherited quarterback Justin Fields. As bad as things look right now, I explained above why it’s probably early to talk in-depth about a firing.
You get the sense that Warren and Poles work well together. I’d be a little surprised if Poles is in jeopardy. We don’t know the length of the contracts Poles and Eberflus received — probably four or five years — and firing both would be expensive for a franchise that has been hesitant to make moves like that in the past. Let’s see what kind of vision, and more importantly actions, Warren has in mind.”
Ryan Poles has some good things going for him.
For one, his roster approach is hard to argue. He does a good job of stacking draft picks, manipulating the board to benefit his team, and doesn’t overpay for free agents. Talent doesn’t seem to be the issue with this version of the Bears. Most of the problems center around poor execution. That points to coaching. If Ryan Pace got a second crack at hiring a head coach, maybe he should, too. Poles is only 37, and this time, he would have the vast connections of Kevin Warren to help guide the search.
There is also the fact Ryan Poles inherited Justin Fields. He had no direct say in drafting him two years ago. Almost every GM is allowed to select a quarterback of their choosing unless the one they take over is a star. Fields is not that. So logic dictates Poles gets such a chance. Last but not least, it’s important to remember George McCaskey hired him personally. There is a strong probability he isn’t inclined to fire his hand-picked GM after two seasons, even if the head coach looks like a dud.
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It may not be what some Bears fans want to hear, but it’s not entirely surprising.
