The Detroit Lions are coming off back-to-back NFC North titles and will begin the 2025 season as the favorites to make that a third straight division title. Once again, however, they will face stiff competition in arguably the toughest division in the league. With all four teams having playoff aspirations, the Lions have to repeat last season's performance to make sure they end up on the winning side again.
Even the Chicago Bears, who have been considered the division's weak link over the past few years, are hoping to end their six-year streak of finishing with a losing record. They hired former Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson to help with that goal, but they just proved that they may not be ready to contend any time soon with a head-scratching decision on Friday.
ESPN sources: the Bears and general manager Ryan Poles have reached agreement on a contract extension that ties him to Chicago for the next five years, through the 2029 season. Poles had two years remaining on his old deal, but now the Bears have him and new head coach Ben… pic.twitter.com/WEpVVAUYat
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) July 11, 2025
Chicago Bears Just Made a Big Mistake Extending GM Ryan Poles' Contract
ESPN's Adam Schefter reported that the Bears were extending GM Ryan Poles' contract, keeping him in Chicago through the 2029 season. Considering that he had two more seasons left on his deal already, this is a surprising development.
While Poles has made some savvy moves like trading the first-overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft for a massive return, the Bears haven't found much success on the field. During his three-year tenure, the Bears have won 15 games in total and haven't sniffed a playoff spot. While making bold moves and winning trades is fun, it doesn't mean much when you hire Matt Eberflus as your head coach. One has to wonder how much of Poles' reputation and sway in the organization has to do with the Carolina Panthers' incompetence rather than his own genius.
Poles had promised that he would grab the NFC North and never give it back when he was first hired in 2022, but he has never even come close to accomplishing that goal. While things will certainly be better under Ben Johnson, the Bears still have an uphill battle against the Lions, Packers, and the Vikings. There is a very good chance the organization will live to regret making this commitment to their lead decision maker so early.