LAKE FOREST, Ill. – The [Chicago Bears](https://www.espn.com/nfl/team/_/name/chi/chicago-bears) and general manager Ryan Poles have agreed to a three-year contract extension, which will extend through the 2029 season. Poles, who took office in 2022 with a five-year contract, is now aligned with head coach Ben Johnson, whose contract also extends to the 2029 season. In January, the extension of Poles during the 2025 off-season was anticipated. Under the direction of Poles, 39, the Bears have undergone a significant rebuild, obtaining the first draft pick in 2022 and 2023. In March 2023, Chicago traded the first draft pick to the [Carolina Panthers](https://www.espn.com/nfl/team/_/name/car/carolina-panthers) in exchange for wide receiver [DJ Moore](https://www.espn.com/nfl/player/_/id/3915416/dj-moore) and four draft picks. These picks were used to select quarterback [Caleb Williams](https://www.espn.com/nfl/player/_/id/4431611/caleb-williams), right tackle [Darnell Wright](https://www.espn.com/nfl/player/_/id/4426358/darnell-wright), cornerback [Tyrique Stevenson](https://www.espn.com/nfl/player/_/id/4426374/tyrique-stevenson), wide receiver [Luther Burden III](https://www.espn.com/nfl/player/_/id/4685278/luther-burden) and kicker [Tory Taylor](https://www.espn.com/nfl/player/_/id/4686889/tory-taylor). Since Poles’ arrival, the Bears have had a 15-36 record and fired former coach Matt Eberflus midway through the 2024 season, which ended with a 5-12 record during Williams’ rookie year. In January, Poles led an extensive coaching search that included interviews with 17 candidates before hiring Johnson. Subsequently, Chicago made significant investments in the offensive line, through trades for guards [Joe Thuney](https://www.espn.com/nfl/player/_/id/2577773/joe-thuney) and [Jonah Jackson](https://www.espn.com/nfl/player/_/id/3930040/jonah-jackson), and the signing of center [Drew Dalman](https://www.espn.com/nfl/player/_/id/4242553/drew-dalman) in free agency. Poles also invested in the defensive line with tackles [Grady Jarrett](https://www.espn.com/nfl/player/_/id/2576492/grady-jarrett), [Shemar Turner](https://www.espn.com/nfl/player/_/id/4432804/shemar-turner) and defensive end [Dayo Odeyingbo](https://www.espn.com/nfl/player/_/id/4242659/dayo-odeyingbo).
In the first draft of Poles and Johnson together, the Bears selected two receiving weapons with the team’s first two draft picks (tight end [Colston Loveland](https://www.espn.com/nfl/player/_/id/4723086/colston-loveland) at number 10 and Burden at number 39) for the first time in franchise history.
There’s a rhythm to all the madness behind what we do and how we do it. And Ryan is really the brains behind all of that. He set it all up and you can tell that this group, this organization, has been together for several years because everything has run smoothly. He’s consistent every day when he comes in. I think sometimes that gets overlooked, particularly in this profession. Consistency is very important and he’s done a great job every day, putting together a plan, executing a plan, and just knowing it more.
Ben Johnson
