Ryan Poles was bombarded with questions about the Chicago Bears’ quarterback situation at his end-of-year press conference. Several of them centered around why he didn’t choose to select C.J. Stroud, who is having an explosive start to his career with the Houston Texans. Poles remained calm, explaining that he was satisfied with what the Bears got from the 2023 draft. That included star receiver D.J. Moore, right tackle Darnell Wright, cornerback Tyrique Stevenson, and a future 1st rounder from Carolina who has turned into the #1 overall pick.
That answer wasn’t enough for most in the room and many Bears fans at home. It is here where people missed Poles’ further explanation. Drafting a quarterback sounds simple, but it isn’t. One thing Poles understands is that he’s not merely picking talent. He’s picking a person. It takes a specific type of personality to play the position in the NFL, especially in a rabid sports town like Chicago. He’s not just looking for a talented quarterback. He is looking for a quarterback with the mental toughness to handle the city he will play in.
“Especially being a quarterback in this city? You’ve got to have it right. You have to have mental toughness. You’ve got to be able to block things out. So, really, I have to find out about the human beings.”
Ryan Poles once again demonstrates he understands Bears history.
Think about it. Sid Luckman, Jim McMahon, and Jay Cutler. All of them were unique in many ways, but they did share one thing in common. They didn’t care what people outside the building thought of them. Each had a semi-rebellious attitude when it came to the opinions of others. It might be somewhat annoying for coaches to deal with at times, but nobody can deny it was well-suited for playing in a notoriously difficult town like Chicago. Luckman won four championships and reached the Hall of Fame. McMahon won a Super Bowl. Cutler owns most of the team’s passing records.
Ryan Poles understands the criticism about Stroud. That was a risk he was willing to take. While he may have liked the kid’s talent, he likely felt he wouldn’t be able to handle the immense pressure of Chicago. With all due respect to Houston, it is not nearly the same thing. They don’t have the same media reach, the same dismal quarterback legacy, or the same tradition. Poles knows he must find someone with the strength, leadership, and charisma to overcome all of that. He didn’t see it last year. Maybe this year will be the time.
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