Ryan Poles has become the latest NFL general manager to receive a contract extension but, unlike those afforded to Jason Licht in Tampa and Kwesi Adofo-Mensah in Minnesota, the fanbase isn’t entirely enthused with the decision.

The Bears have gone 15-36 since Poles was hired in 2022, and have finished dead last in the NFC North in the past two years. That slump, however, has led to Ben Johnson taking over as head coach and, before the former Detroit Lions OC arrived, the drafting of Caleb Williams, who the team fervently hope will become the next franchise quarterback. Moreover, Poles’ decision to trade out of the first overall pick in 2023 — the year before Williams left USC — provided draft capital that the Bears used to select right tackle Darnell Wright, cornerback Tyrique Stevenson and the 2024 first overall pick which, of course, was spent on Williams. The 2023 deal with Carolina also netted veteran wide receiver D.J. Moore, who looks set to continue a productive relationship with the new QB into 2025.

“One thing I will say about Ryan and coach, everything that we hoped that we would have from a working relationship, we’ve seen it,” Bears president/CEO Kevin Warren was quoted as telling The Athletic at the league meetings in April. “Coach is exactly who we had hoped that he would be, [and] their relationship is exactly — and I would say it has far exceeded — what we could imagine. To have those two men together, [with] Ryan’s staff and also coach Johnson’s staff, gives me a lot of hope and positivity as we go into the season.”

The extension now sees Poles under contract through 2029, the same as Johnson.