The Chicago Bears have reached an agreement with General Manager Ryan Poles on a three-year contract extension that will last through the 2029 NFL season, according to sources who spoke with ESPN’s Adam Schefter. Poles, who initially signed a five-year deal when he became the Bears’ GM in 2022, now has two additional years added to his tenure alongside head coach Ben Johnson, whose contract also extends through 2029.
The Bears’ plans to extend Poles’ contract were first reported by ESPN in January during the 2025 offseason. Since joining, Poles, 39, has led a significant rebuild for the team, which secured top draft picks in both the 2022 and 2023 seasons. In a notable move, Chicago traded their top 2023 draft selections to the Carolina Panthers in exchange for four draft picks and wide receiver DJ Moore.
Under Poles’ leadership, the Bears have compiled a 15-36 record, including a coaching change when Matt Evals was let go mid-2024 season, finishing that year 5-12 in Johnson’s rookie season. Poles conducted an extensive coaching search in January, interviewing 17 candidates before choosing Johnson as the head coach.
The Bears have also invested heavily in both their offensive line and defensive front, signing key free agents such as guards Joe Tohney and Jonah Jackson, center Drew Dalman, and defensive players Grady Jarrett, Shamiel Turner, and defensive end-day Odeinbo. Poles and Johnson’s first draft together yielded the Bears’ first-ever selection of their top two picks to be players primarily skilled in catching passes, including 10th overall pick Colston Loveland.
“There’s a rhythm to all the chaos behind our process, and Ryan is the mastermind. He set everything in motion, and it’s why this group and organization operate so cohesively,” Johnson said in April.
Fan Take: This extension signals strong confidence in the direction Ryan Poles is taking the Bears, hinting at both stability and long-term commitment to rebuilding the team. For NFL fans, it’s an exciting development that could make Chicago a more competitive franchise to watch in the coming years, potentially shifting the balance of power in the league.
