Ryan Poles secret weapon led to Bears’ Jeffery Simmons trade

Dangling two first-round picks in their face, it was hard for the Tennessee Titans to say no. General manager Ryan Poles and the Chicago Bears managed to trade for All-Pro Jeffery Simmons.

The intent from both sides was clear. Tennessee is 1-6 on the year and struggling to stay afloat. They now have some extra capital to build their future with. Chicago is 5-2 and have their sights set on competing for a Super Bowl. Simmons legitimizes those hopes.

For Poles, he is banking his legacy and potentially career on this trade. He will hear plenty of flack for giving up two first-round picks. But if the Bears are successful in their goal and Simmons stays a dominant force, that noise will be much quieter.

The general manager wanted to be aggressive leading up to the deadline. Poles’ previous connections made the blockbuster easier to finalize

Ryan Poles delivers Bears Jeffery Simmons

Prior to joining the Bears, Ryan Poles worked in the Kansas City Chiefs’ front office from 2009-2021. There, he was alongside Mike Borgonzi, who was with the Chiefs from 2009-2024.

Borgonzi is now the Titans general manager. When Poles calls, he always picks up the phone. Their connection dates back even further than their Chiefs days. Trade conversations became more productive with an already established relationship, via Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated.

“Titans GM Mike Borgonzi and Bears GM Ryan Poles worked together in Kansas City from 2009-21, and actually were together at Boston College in 2007 when Poles was a player and Borgonzi was a young assistant,” Breer wrote. “High level of trust b/w the two was a big factor in the Simmons deal.”

Now, both sides will wait to see how the trade pans out. The Titans want a much brighter future whereas the present is premium for the Bears. Poles and Borgonzi will only be intertwined further after the massive deal.

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