The Chicago Bears took around two weeks to hire Ryan Pace back in 2015. This time around, the organization doesn’t appear remotely close to making a final decision on their next GM. George McCaskey and his search team have lived up to the promise he made, conducting a thorough and exhaustive search. Thus far there has been little movement. Only one candidate has received a second interview request.
They still have multiple names awaiting their first. Morocco Brown from the Colts. Omar Khan from the Steelers. Joe Hortiz from the Ravens and JoJo Wooden from the Chargers. It is hard to imagine this ending anytime soon. Not unless the Bears really start to speed up the process. According to Aaron Wilson of Pro Football Network, many around the league expect that to happen. In fact, there is an anticipated date for said new GM to be named.
“According to league sources, (Ryan) Poles is a finalist for the Bears’ general manager vacancy in a wide-ranging search directed by retired GM Bill Polian in collaboration with chairman George McCaskey. Poles has a second interview with Chicago this week and is also a finalist for the Vikings’ general manager opening.
Monday, the Bears have interviews with Steelers vice president and top negotiator Omar Khan and Indianapolis Colts director of college scouting Morocco Brown.
The other finalist for Minnesota’s job is Browns vice president of football operations Kwesi Adofo-Mensah. He will interview in Minneapolis on Tuesday, with Poles meeting with the franchise on Wednesday.
Several league sources predicted that a decision for both jobs could happen as soon as Wednesday or Thursday this week.”
This would seem to make sense.
Remember that the Bears aren’t just operating on a GM timeline. They still need to find a new head coach as well. The longer they wait to make a decision on the former, the higher the odds that another team could scoop up top candidates for the latter. The New York Giants already have a new GM in place and appear to be zeroing in on Bills offensive coordinator Brian Daboll and former Dolphins head coach Brian Flores.
Both are top candidates for the Bears job. Getting the GM job right is most important. That is not up for debate. Yet the team can’t wait forever. They have to start the process of picking a list of finalists. As of right now, there is only one. Standard procedure usually says there will be two or three more to get second interviews before McCaskey makes a final decision. That is unless Poles makes it impossible for them to wait any longer.
Subscribe to the BFR podcast and ride shotgun with Dave and Ficky as they break down Bears football like nobody else.
Chicago Bears are in a unique position with Poles
It is obvious they really liked him from all reports surrounding his first interview. His second could be especially important. A big reason why is because most believe the Minnesota Vikings are prepared to make him an offer for their own GM position. That means the Bears control the narrative here. If they let him leave Halas Hall, the odds are he’ll take over a division rival. On the other hand, they have the power to close the deal first.
Much of this could depend on how the other remaining candidates fare in their own interviews. Brown and Khan are viewed as viable contenders for different reasons. Brown is the handpicked favorite of Bill Polian, the Chicago Bears’ search consultant. He also worked for the organization from 2001 to 2007. Khan comes from the proven front office in Pittsburgh, a team the McCaskeys admire and also has friends in the Bears scouting department.
There is also a possibility one of the 16 other candidates may get a second look too.
Knowing all of this, it is difficult to believe the Bears will have it sorted out by January 27th. Then again, a process can move fast once a final list is agreed upon. Clarity should be coming in the next 48 hours.
