Now three days removed from the Bears' final game of the season, general manager Ryan Poles was able to properly convey his thoughts on the 2025 Bears and what lies ahead for 2026.
First and foremost, he acknowledged that the team fell short of its main goal — winning a Super Bowl. However, in Ben Johnson's first year as head coach, Poles experienced the most success during his tenure in Chicago, including a 12-7 record, the NFC North title and two home playoff games.
"I am proud of the progress that we've made," Poles said Wednesday at his end-of-season press conference at Halas Hall. "And knowing that, we can't be complacent. We've got to keep pushing forward. [Johnson and I] both come from organizations (Detroit and Kansas City) that have stacked success in back-to-back years. We know the challenge that comes with having success and then trying to get back to that the following year.
"I can tell you right now, we're all excited for that challenge in terms of building this team back up, making tweaks, tightening screws on the process, and the people that we need to continue to elevate for us to get back to where we were and exceed that, and win championships around here."
Addressing the media after Johnson Wednesday, Poles opened his session expressing gratitude for several groups inside Halas Hall who contributed to the team's success this season, including leadership – President & CEO Kevin Warren and chairman George H. McCaskey – the entire coaching staff, players and support staff.
"I just want to start off with some people that I'm proud of and I'm thankful for," he said, "and that starts with leadership; George and Kevin for their support, not only on a daily basis, but in terms of resources and priorities, making sure that our football team and our players are first. That has a huge impact on how we did this year and how we move forward."
Poles also delivered a message to Bears fans, who showed up in full force at Soldier Field both in the regular season and playoffs, giving the team a powerful home-field advantage.
"I want to thank our fans," he said. "As coach said, I'll never forget those playoff games. The games at the end of the season, they brought it. I had never seen Soldier Field like that before. I can't wait to get back to that point. I had family members flying in to O'Hare texting me, saying, 'I've never seen anything like this' in terms of the amount of pride that our fans had, wearing their Bears gear, pumped up about the upcoming game.
"We felt that, and that's part of the job that we don't talk about a lot. It's just inspiring our fan base, inspiring the community, bringing that joy and that fun to the community because of the football team and how they're doing."
For Poles, Johnson and the rest of the Bears front office, the focus now turns to making necessary changes and additions during the offseason in hopes of making Chicago feel even more pride and excitement in the 2026 Bears.
While the staff will take a step back before key offseason events such as the NFL Combine, free agency and NFL Draft, Poles emphasized his excitement for continuing to build the best possible roster. He understands that with success comes a different set of difficult decisions and constraints, but he's ready for the challenge.
"I don't think the process changes," Poles said. "You're gonna identify the guys that fit what we want in our football team, which coach hit [on], and you just keep trying to acquire those players. We know what they look like, we know how they act, we know how they talk, and we'll continue to do that. That's part of the thing. One, can you self-evaluate and be critical of yourself and your team to make sure you know what you have in the building? And then can you just keep pounding away and sticking to your process? You make tweaks, of course, but stick to the process of bringing in the right types of people, and it usually works out for you.
"We want to stay flexible, we want to stay open-minded, we want to stay committed to building this team the right way because I think that's the best way to sustain success. We're always going to be opportunistic. We're going to go through opportunities that pop up and talk through them. Is this best for us short-term? Is it best for us long-term? And then we move from there."
A year of Ben Johnson
When discussing Johnson's first year at the helm, Poles thanked him for his "dedication to this job" and expressed how much he loved watching the coach establish a strong culture within the locker room.
"He talked about being a first-time head coach – it didn't feel that way at all," Poles said. "His ability to take the words off the wall and push that to his players and see them respond was incredible. Even in some of the feedback we got, these guys are just doubling down on his message. When it got to the locker room, there was no hesitation, there was no gray area. They pushed forward because they believed in what he was saying and what he needed from them, which was incredible."
Dating back to last year's offseason program, players have consistently raved about Johnson's consistency, intensity and intelligence. Poles recognized those traits months prior, when Johnson interviewed for the head-coaching job, but to see it all come to life over the past 365 days and manifest throughout the coaching staff and locker room has been special.
"The buy-in was incredible," Poles said. "I go back to training camp. He needed a physical day in the dog days of camp, and that was a really cool opportunity to see those guys buy into what he was saying, do something really hard. In the moment, does it feel good? No. But they believed, from his message, that it would help us down the road. And they went all out with it. And you saw that go through the entire season."
Part of the identity established last season by Johnson and his self-described "five-star staff" was poise under pressure, which led to seven comeback victories, including a memorable wild card overtime win over the Packers.
While Poles acknowledged the sustainability of those fourth-quarter comebacks isn't guaranteed, he is more focused on the resiliency and belief that they symbolize.
"I heard the whole 'cardiac Bears' thing," Poles said. "I'd rather not be the cardiac Bears. But if that's what that game needs, then that's what you need to do. But I do think you've got to win close games. When you get down to those two minutes, that's important. They repped that a lot and the guys were prepared for it.
"I don't think you want to be living on the edge all the time, but I think what you can take from this season was that we were able to have poise down the stretch of games and be poised to finish, and guys made plays when they needed to be made. I don't think that's a characteristic that you should ever shy away from."
Player evaluations
While Poles and his player personnel staff will soon dive further into individual and position group evaluations, he provided insight on a few key players.
When asked about quarterback Caleb Williams, Poles said he was most happy to see the USC product's pocket presence and ability to escape pressure that he routinely displayed in college reemerge under Johnson's guidance. While Poles reiterated Johnson's sentiment that Williams still has plenty of growth opportunities ahead of him, the GM was impressed with his "gotta-have-it moment" throws this season, including the game-tying touchdown pass to tight end Cole Kmet last Sunday against the Rams.
"I couldn't believe it," Poles said. "It was a ridiculous throw, and that's a credit to him and his genetics and his arm, his ability to create and pocket awareness. I think this year, I realized how athletic he is. I knew he was a good athlete. He's a little awkward in his movements, but it's unique in the way that he can get out of things and move his body, so he'll continue to get better and lean into the traits that he has."
Poles commended the offensive line's cohesion, which he described as "almost choreographed," specifically with the overhaul of the interior in free agency last year. He also saw the additions of Joe Thuney, Drew Dalman and Jonah Jackson positively impact third-year right tackle Darnell Wright, who earned second-team All-Pro honors this season.
"That's one thing we've challenged [Wright] with is the consistency part," Poles said. "I think there's some ups and downs every once in a while, but when he strings it together, it's really, really good and it's going to help us win football games. I love watching him come off the ball and move people. And when he has this confidence and belief in himself that he's the best on the field, I think he can be one of the best to do it. He just has to show up and continue to put that work in and get there.
"I love his work in the offseason and in the weight room. I think it started there for him and then built up. But with those guys and their leadership, it definitely rubbed off on Darnell."
On the defensive side of the ball, Poles lauded coordinator Dennis Allen and his staff for managing through a series of major injuries this season through all three levels of the unit. Poles was asked specifically about his evaluation of the defensive line. His answer focused on pass rusher Montez Sweat, who recorded 10 sacks, 18 quarterback hits, three forced fumbles and one fumble recovery.
"I thought Sweat did a good job this year," Poles said. "I think sometimes we get hung up on sacks, and sacks are important — he did get into double digits — but I think his all-around game was good. The way he defended the run, defended the perimeter as well as applied pressure was good. But we need him to continue to get better too, so we'll evaluate everything, but that's always – O-line, D-line – that's always a space where we want to get better."
On the back end of the defense, four of the Bears' safeties are set to become free agents this spring, including Pro Bowler Kevin Byard III and 2022 second-round draft pick Jaquan Brisker.
"Kevin's a special player," Poles said. "I have no problem saying that's a player that we would like to have back. But, again, when you add the other safeties into that mix and all the other decisions we have across the roster, with cap restraints and things like that, it'll be a challenge. But that's part of what we do."
Injury updates
Poles also provided insight on several injured players and their potential return timelines.
Those expected to return to action at some point during the offseason, whether it's spring practices or the start of training camp, include defensive linemen Dayo Odeyingbo and Shemar Turner, linebacker T.J. Edwards, defensive backs Terell Smith and Zah Frazier as well as offensive lineman Kiran Amegadjie.
Frazier, the Bears' fifth-round selection last year, missed the entire season due to a personal situation, but is ready to return for the upcoming offseason program.
"I had a good conversation with him," Poles said. "He's back. He'll be back going into this offseason like everybody else. He feels like he is in a really good place to develop and move forward. Definitely a setback. He's got a mountain to climb just for missing so much ball. He needed to play. So that will be up to him to be able to get himself in the right position to compete for a roster spot."
Two players with longer return timelines include offensive lineman Ozzy Trapilo, who suffered a patellar tendon injury in the wild card win over the Packers, and linebacker Noah Sewell, who tore his Achilles tendon in the final regular-season game against the Lions, both of whom have already had surgery and kicked off their rehab processes. Poles specifically commented on Trapilo's injury, which put an end to a strong rookie campaign for the second-round selection.
"It's really unfortunate because I thought he was really coming along," Poles said. "I was looking forward to him getting this offseason – I don't have a specific timetable. I'm sure it'll be deep into next year, with the injury. So, we've had a conversation with him. He knows this is part of his journey that he has to overcome. I have a lot of faith in him and our staff to get him back ready to go whenever that is. But, specifically with timetables, I don't have that right now."
Poles also noted two players who sustained injuries against the Rams – cornerback Jaylon Johnson suffered a "minor" wrist surgery that won't require surgery and offensive lineman Jordan McFadden had an ankle injury.
