Bears GM Ryan Poles reveals shared mindset with Ben Johnson

Ryan Poles and the front office placed a huge trust in Ben Johnson. It led to a significant part of the Chicago Bears’ success last season. The franchise hired the first-time head coach in January 2025 after he emerged as one of the top candidates in the coaching cycle.

Johnson guided Chicago to an 11-6 record and an NFC North crown. They also reached the Divisional Round but lost 20-17 in overtime to the Los Angeles Rams. However, he proved that he is the long-term answer, along with Caleb Williams under center. The Bears are busy preparing for next season and have set their sights on a deeper postseason run despite facing the league’s toughest schedule.

Chicago Bears GM Ryan Poles and HC Ben Johnson — Ryan Poles and Ben Johnson embrace at latter’s Chicago Bears introductory press conference.

Chicago Bears: Ryan Poles discusses the same goal he has with Ben Johnson

Poles talked about the shared mindset he has with Johnson. The general manager highlighted that they both want to win and build something sustainable for the franchise in the years to come.

“He just wants to be great,” Poles said. “He wants a championship. If whatever we’re going to do is driven by that, he wants perfection. He wants to create a team, a dynasty, something that’s going to sustain for a long time. His standards are so high. And that’s why the pairing between the two of us is so good. We’re not doing things just to be a good football team (but) we’re not doing things to have a good season. We’re doing things to be a championship-caliber team for a very long time.

“We want to change this whole organization and take it to a level that it’s never been before. We talk about it all the time. That’s a daily approach. We talked about in the opener, someone asked about being the hunted versus hunt. And like what I said, we have a hunt mentality all the time. So whatever mountain we’re trying to climb, we’re going to the top. So whatever’s behind us, we don’t really care about it. It’s where we’re going. And again, that’s the daily approach.”

“We’re doing things to be a championship-caliber team for a very long time.”@ChicagoBears GM Ryan Poles on HC Ben Johnson and what they are building in Chicago.

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— SiriusXM NFL Radio (@SiriusXMNFL) August 2, 2026

Chicago will play seven primetime games in 2026. It gives fans around the country more chances of seeing Johnson’s coaching in action. Poles and Johnson may only be entering their second season together, but expectations are high, especially after last year’s big step forward.