Ryan Poles on the Hot Seat: How the Bears’ GM Turned 2024 into a Season of Disappointment

Many Chicago Bears fans are starting Christmas morning hoping for Ryan Poles’ dismissal to top their holiday wish list.

The Thanksgiving Day firing of head coach Matt Eberflus, following the Bears’ loss to the Detroit Lions, revealed a troubling truth: while Eberflus’ poor in-game decisions were obvious, they obscured the reality that Poles had assembled a deeply flawed roster for the 2024 season. This raises serious concerns for the Bears’ future. Poles had promised that 2024 would mark the end of the team’s rebuild. After spending two years dismantling and retooling the roster, Poles entered the season with his chosen quarterback, signaling that the Bears were ready to contend. However, the team appears further from playoff contention now than when Poles assumed the general manager role after the 2021 season.

The 2024 season has been a catastrophe for Poles, earning him a spot on the naughty list this holiday season. Here are three key missteps:

1. Retaining Matt Eberflus for a Third Season

Eberflus’ shortcomings in game management were not a new issue this year. In the 2023 season, the Bears lost three games where they had a 90% chance of winning. Eberflus blamed those collapses on the quarterback position during the offseason. However, even with a quarterback capable of leading multiple fourth-quarter comebacks this season, Eberflus’ inadequacies became clear. Without the scapegoat of Justin Fields, his inability to lead became undeniable, causing him to lose the locker room before his dismissal.

2. Signing D’Andre Swift

Poles aggressively pursued D’Andre Swift, signing him to a three-year deal. This decision was puzzling, especially since Poles had refused to match David Montgomery’s contract with the Lions the previous offseason. If Poles wanted a dynamic addition to the offense, targeting players like Saquon Barkley or Josh Jacobs would have been wiser.

The move was also poorly timed. Paying top dollar for a running back makes sense for teams in win-now mode, not for a rebuilding franchise. Swift’s performance failed to elevate the Bears’ offense, making this a glaring misstep by Poles.

3. A Disappointing 2024 Draft Class

While the Bears’ top two draft picks—quarterback Caleb Williams and wide receiver Rome Odunze—have shown promise, the rest of the draft was underwhelming.Ryan Poles on the Hot Seat: How the Bears’ GM Turned 2024 into a Season of Disappointment

Kiran Amegadjie (3rd round): A developmental prospect ill-suited for an offensive line already plagued by injuries and ineffectiveness.

Tory Taylor (4th round): Selecting a punter in the middle rounds was unjustifiable for a team with pressing roster needs.

Austin Booker (5th round): Though not a bad pick, Booker isn’t the pass-rusher the Bears desperately needed.

While Williams and Odunze provide hope, the Bears cannot overlook these miscalculations. Poles’ decisions have left the team in worse shape, casting doubt on his ability to guide the franchise forward.