Ryan Poles breaks silence on Chicago Bears’ blockbuster Jeffery Simmons trade

Chicago Bears general manager Ryan Poles has been working the phones, trying to find an impact player prior to the trade deadline. That effort landed the Bears Jeffery Simmons in a trade with the Tennessee Titans.

The Bears gave up two first-round picks and a fourth for the All-Pro defensive tackle. But for Poles, the price was worth it. Chicago had done all the research they could about how a deal of this size would affect the present and future. In the end, having Simmons on the defensive line was too good to pass up, via Poles’ Friday press conference.

“We spend a lot of time throughout the season where we look at, what does 2027, 2028, 2029 look like? How does this move impact us moving forward? We always go back to, can we sustain success, can we sustain being a championship caliber team or does this take us out of it? We work that process often,” Poles said. “When you come to a big decision like this, you want to make sure you’re not hurting the organization long-term, just to have a short-term gain.”

Alongside what Simmons brings to the field, Poles was confident in making a trade due to the current state of the Bears. He believes fully in head coach Ben Johnson and quarterback Caleb Williams. Their potential made it easier for Poles to say yes to a trade.

“Tremendous amount of belief in our head coach and coaching staff,” Poles said. “You don’t do that if you don’t have that. A lot of hope and belief in our quarterback and the path he’s on. That makes you feel really comfortable making a decision like this.”

Chicago Bears get disruptive defender in Jeffery Simmons

Simmons is coming to Chicago as a four-time Pro Bowler and reigning First-team All-Pro. Through his first seven games in 2026, the defensive tackle has put up nine quarterback hits and four sacks. he now leads the Bears in QB hits and is tied for the team lead in sacks.

To Poles, Simmons provides something no one else in Chicago had. The general manager is expecting his intensity to permeate throughout the roster.

“His intensity that he brings to the football field,” Poles said. “He has a certain standard of how you play this game. He lives that, he models that behavior. When you don’t live that, he’s a guy that makes it a little bit uncomfortable for you, which is important. I don’t know if we have that right now, and we do with adding him.”

Simmons is under contract through 2030. He is now set to be the anchor of Chicago’s defensive line for the foreseeable future. Between his abilities and fit on the team, Poles couldn’t resist trading for the All-Pro.

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