One thing that is becoming clear about Ryan Poles is he has relationships everywhere across the NFL. With executives, scouts, coaches, and players. Probably one of the most well-known of the latter is star Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan. The two built a relationship back in the mid-2000s when they were teammates at Boston College. Poles blocked for Ryan on the offensive line. Upon reaching the NFL, their careers went in different directions.
Poles went into scouting and found immediate success with the Kansas City Chiefs. Ryan went on to have a stellar career with the Falcons. Likely someone that ends up in the Hall of Fame whenever he finally retires. Even so, they’ve kept up with each other over the years. When the news dropped that Poles was selected to become the new GM of the Chicago Bears, the quarterback was overjoyed.
He knew better than most how hard his old friend had to work to get this far.
What fans want to know is the kind of executive they’re getting. What approach Poles will bring to the table? In speaking with Larry Mayer of ChicagoBears.com, Ryan made one thing clear. The 36-year old is absolutely relentless when it comes to football. It doesn’t matter if somebody else might be smarter. Nobody is going to outwork him. Ever. The guy lives and breathes football.
“[At Boston College] he was the best, a really, really hard worker who led by example,” Ryan told ChicagoBears.com Wednesday. “He just kind of lived, breathed, ate and slept football. That’s what he was all about. He’s one of my best friends and I’m just so happy for him…
…He’s incredibly consistent day-to-day,” Ryan said. “He was that as a player at BC. He’s been that as a scout for as long as he’s been doing it. He’s incredibly hard-working. I always knew that about him, whether it was offseason training or in-season. As a teammate and certainly as a personnel guy, he’s been incredibly hard working. As a friend and as a teammate, he’s unbelievably loyal; he has your back through thick and thin.”
For better or worse, this is the sort of mindset it usually takes to have success in the NFL. Coaches or GMs that put in the extra time and work are often the ones that get a leg up on others. This doesn’t automatically mean Poles will be successful. It does mean the Bears are going to get everything he has. That is a good thing. If he is able to build a strong front office and find the right head coach, this team can win a lot of games in the future.
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A 🐻⬇️ to make things official. pic.twitter.com/3zrQLlG1le
— Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears) January 26, 2022
Matt Ryan might be biased but he isn’t wrong
Others who have worked with Poles over the past several years are saying the same things. Detailed, organized, and persistent with everything he does. When a guy like that is setting the tone at the top, it trickles down to everybody else. One can imagine he’ll be seeking out similar personalities both in his front office and on the coaching staff. Guys obsessed with winning football games. As it should be.
It is interesting to hear what Matt Ryan has to say. He has a unique perspective on Poles that others don’t. Most only know him as a scout and executive. Ryan knows him like that but also as a player. The guy that was a standout blocker in college and became an undrafted free agent for the Bears in 2008. He has seen the entire picture.
It is little wonder he is so confident the man will thrive.
The next stage in Poles’ plan will be finding that coach. Thus far he has met with three candidates in Jim Caldwell, Matt Eberflus, and Dan Quinn. No deal seems close at the moment. It is possible this might take a few more days before something happens.
