The Bears' 10-game losing streak in response to the Hail Mary debacle forced Poles to acknowledge a failure — the team with eight captains and a "really special" group of players needs a boost in leadership.

It sounds like Ben Johnson is open to working with Ryan Poles, which could have long-term implications for the Bears' GM.

Poles kept it mostly vague Tuesday, talking about needing to “look in the mirror” and review past hiring processes to identify his missteps without specifying much of what he intended to correct.

While Poles took his time answering each and every question directed his way, he also took time to address a rumor about himself and an apparent rift with president Kevin Warren. Calling the rumor of a rift between him and Warren "disappointing,

GM-centric workflow models are more common in the modern NFL than those that start with head coaches, though some teams still have their sideline leaders atop the personnel pyramid.

Chicago Bears general manager Ryan Poles has dumped fuel on rumors that his team could trade for its next head coach in 2025.