Bears Built the Foundation - Now Ryan Poles Has to Finish the Job
It took a few years longer than some fans might’ve liked, but Ryan Poles’ vision for the Chicago Bears is finally starting to take shape - and more importantly, it’s starting to win. After four seasons of calculated roster reconstruction, the Bears emerged in 2025 with a team that didn’t just compete in the NFC North, it took it back.
Poles inherited a bloated, aging roster when he took over in 2022. The teardown was inevitable.
The rebuild? That was the real test.
And like any GM, Poles had his fair share of misses - not every draft pick or free-agent signing worked out. But the overall arc has been upward, and now, the Bears are positioned to build something sustainable.
A big turning point came last offseason when Poles brought in Ben Johnson as head coach. That move didn’t just change the playbook - it changed the entire tone of the franchise.
Johnson’s offensive philosophy injected life into a team that had been stuck in neutral for years. The roster got younger, faster, and more in tune with the modern game.
For the first time in a long time, the Bears don’t just feel competitive - they feel current.
The Next Step: Don’t Repeat the Mistakes of the Past
Now comes the hard part: sustaining success. That’s where the cautionary tale of former GM Ryan Pace looms large.
Pace’s tenure started with promise but was ultimately undone by impulsive decisions and a win-now mentality that lacked long-term vision. Poles can’t afford to fall into that same trap.
If the Bears are going to add veterans this offseason - and there are some big names being floated, from Maxx Crosby and Jeffrey Simmons in potential trades to free agent edge rusher Trey Hendrickson - the moves have to fit the Bears’ timeline. This isn’t about headline-grabbing splashes. It’s about building a contender that can last.
Scheme Fit Matters - Even for Recent Draft Picks
One of the trickier challenges Poles faces this offseason is evaluating holdover players from the Matt Eberflus era - especially those who might not mesh with Ben Johnson’s vision or Dennis Allen’s defensive philosophy.
Two names to watch: 2023 second-round picks Gervon Dexter and Tyrique Stevenson.
Dexter hasn’t brought enough disruption on the interior defensive line to lock down a starting role. Stevenson, meanwhile, lost his starting job to Nahshon Wright and struggled with consistency throughout the year. Neither player has firmly established himself as part of the long-term core, and both could be on the bubble heading into 2026.
This is where Poles has to be ruthless. Draft capital doesn’t guarantee job security - not when the scheme changes and production doesn’t follow.
Jaquan Brisker’s Future Could Hinge on Kevin Byard
Another tough decision looms in the secondary. Jaquan Brisker, one of Poles’ earliest draft picks, is set to hit free agency.
While he’s flashed potential, he hasn’t developed into the difference-maker the Bears hoped for. His coverage lapses have been costly at times, especially in crunch moments.
Complicating matters is the free agency status of Kevin Byard. The veteran safety was an All-Pro this past season and has emerged as both a leader on the field and in the locker room. If it comes down to choosing between the two, the Bears may have to let go of Brisker to keep Byard in the fold.
It’s not an easy call - every GM wants to see his own draft picks become foundational players. But the NFL doesn’t reward sentimentality. It rewards results.
The Window Is Opening - But It Won’t Stay Open Forever
The Bears aren’t just a feel-good story anymore. They’re a legitimate threat in the NFC - a team with a young core, a modern offense, and a GM who’s shown he can make bold moves when necessary. But the next phase of the rebuild is just as critical as the teardown.
Ryan Poles has laid the groundwork. Now he has to stay disciplined, stay strategic, and avoid the missteps that doomed the last regime. The NFC North is no longer out of reach - the Bears are back in the mix.
But if Chicago wants to stay there, Poles has to keep building the right way.