Ryan Poles has spent four years reshaping the identity of the Chicago Bears, and for the first time in a long time, it feels like the foundation is finally in place. After years of instability at quarterback and head coach, Poles seems to have hit on both.
Caleb Williams, even with a few rookie bumps in the postseason, flashed the kind of late-game brilliance that makes front offices and fan bases believe they’ve found the guy. And head coach Ben Johnson?
He brought structure, accountability, and belief to a locker room that had been starved for it.
The Bears came up just short of the NFC Championship, falling to a more seasoned and talented team. But make no mistake-this wasn’t a fluke run.
It was the product of a young team coming together under the right leadership. And now, the challenge shifts for Poles.
The rebuild is over. The window is opening.
The question is: how aggressive is he willing to be to push this team into true contender status?
Building Around the Core
Poles nailed the 2025 draft, adding real contributors like tight end Colston Loveland, wide receiver Luther Burden, and running back Kyle Monangai. Those picks weren’t just about talent-they were about fit.
Each player brought something the offense needed, and their impact was felt immediately. If offensive lineman Ozzy Trapilo can bounce back from his knee injury, that class could go down as a turning point in the Poles era.
But now comes the trickier part. The Bears are projected to be over the salary cap heading into the offseason.
That means tough decisions are coming, and for the first time, Poles is navigating this phase without the benefit of a top-10 draft pick or a ton of financial flexibility. This is where front offices earn their stripes.
Cap Crunch and Contract Calculus
Up to this point, Poles has been conservative when it comes to restructuring contracts. It’s a common tactic-rework a deal to lower the current cap hit, push money into future years-but it comes with long-term consequences. Still, with the Bears this close to breaking through, the calculus may have to change.
Players like Montez Sweat and Jaylon Johnson have contracts that could be restructured to free up space. Doing so could allow the Bears to retain key defensive pieces like Kevin Byard, Jaquan Brisker, C.J.
Gardner-Johnson, and D’Marco Jackson. That continuity on defense could be the difference between another playoff push and a real Super Bowl run.
And if there’s enough room left over, Poles might even be able to take a big swing in free agency-something that could put this roster over the top.
Scouting Under Pressure
Then there’s the draft. For rebuilding teams, picking in the top 10 makes life easier.
The talent is more obvious, the margin for error wider. But now, the Bears will be picking later in the first round-where scouting departments earn their keep.
This is where teams like the Ravens, Eagles, and Chiefs have separated themselves over the years: finding value outside the spotlight.
Fortunately, Poles and assistant GM Ian Cunningham come from those very organizations. They understand how to build rosters from the middle and back of the draft board.
They know how to find plug-and-play contributors and long-term developmental pieces. That experience is going to matter more than ever.
The Next Step
The Bears aren’t rebuilding anymore-they’re reloading. And that shift in mindset changes everything.
It’s no longer about patience. It’s about timing.
Caleb Williams has shown he can be the guy. Ben Johnson has proven he can lead.
Now it’s on Ryan Poles to make the moves that turn potential into production.
The Bears were an overtime away from the NFC Championship. That’s not a fluke.
That’s a signal. The foundation is there.
The question now is whether Poles is ready to go all-in.
Because the window is open. And in the NFL, that doesn’t last forever.