When he took over as GM of the Chicago Bears, Ryan Poles didn’t take long to make an impression. He made his goals clear. That is, to build a tough, violent and fast soccer team. Then it should take complete control of the NFC North. After that, the goal of winning championships becomes obvious. Perhaps what stands out most about the 36-year-old is his personality. It’s shocking how different he is from Ryan Pace.
No one ever accused the former GM of being absent-minded, but it was evident that Pace seemed composed and even distant at times. He had no trouble smiling and handled the media with practiced ease. The same cannot be said of his successor. Poles has a hard edge for him. It comes up in every interview he has given so far. Apparently, this doesn’t just apply to the cameras. According to CHGO’s Adam Hoge, he’s like this all the time.
People new to Halas Hall are still getting used to it.
“Sources at Halas Hall have described Poland as certainly and extremely serious. One source even painted it as “difficult to read.” But no one has questioned the amount of work the Poles are putting into reshaping the Bears’ squad, even if the number of early free-hand substitutions was limited.”
Ryan Poles carries himself like someone with a chip on his shoulder. A man with something to prove. It shouldn’t come as a surprise. He’s one of the rare black GMs in the NFL. This person came into the NFL as an undrafted free agent and flamed out after a year. He then switched to scouting and spent over a decade working his way up the ladder to take over the same franchise that was once the site of his greatest failure.
Remember the Bears were the team that cut him in 2008. Since that day he has struggled to get to where he is now and he is determined to show everyone that he deserves this job. Being employed is not enough. He plans to kick and yell this franchise back to success if need be. Nobody will stand in his way. It’s not his job to be friends with everyone in the building. It is about creating a successful organization.
Someone else can lighten the mood if they wish. He will continue to focus on the big picture. It’s reassuring to know someone like that is in charge.
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