CHICAGO — The Chicago Bears are working on a deal to make Ryan Poles, the Kansas City Chiefs executive director of player personnel, their new general manager, a league source confirmed.
Poles was at Halas Hall for his second interview Tuesday, and by noon, NFL Network and ESPN reported the Bears were finalizing a contract with the man who will replace Ryan Pace.
Poles, 36, has been with the Chiefs for 13 years, working his way up from player personnel assistant to college scouting administrator and coordinator, director of college scouting, assistant director of player personnel and now executive director of player personnel this season. He was part of the Chiefs team that won Super Bowl LIV.
Chiefs general manager Brett Veach told The Athletic in August that Poles, who was named to the outlet’s NFL 40 under 40 list, has had “quite an impact in building our roster.”
“In our line of work, it’s really important that we turn over every stone, and Ryan is outstanding when it comes to research and details,” Veach said. “He loves the game; you can tell by his attitude and the way he grinds. Beyond that, he’s a tremendous talent evaluator and plays a key role in our personnel department.”
Veach is the third GM under which Poles has worked while with the Chiefs, along with Scott Pioli and John Dorsey. He also worked with three head coaches — Todd Haley, Romeo Crennel and Andy Reid.
Poles, a native of Canandaigua, N.Y., was an offensive lineman at Boston College, where he was part of the line that protected quarterback Matt Ryan. He signed as an undrafted free agent with the Bears before working as a recruiting assistant for BC in 2008-09.
Poles also was a finalist for the GM jobs with the New York Giants and Minnesota Vikings. He had an interview scheduled with the Vikings for Wednesday.
Poles and the Bears now will turn their attention to hiring a new head coach to replace Matt Nagy. ESPN reported former Indianapolis Colts and Detroit Lions coach Jim Caldwell was in the building Tuesday as a potential pairing with Poles.
Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer reported on Monday that Poles had connected with Caldwell, Dallas Cowboys defensive coordinator and former Atlanta Falcons head coach Dan Quinn and Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive coordinator Todd Bowles about potentially joining him.
Colts defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus also reportedly is scheduled for a second interview Wednesday.
