Ryan Poles

Last updated

Ryan Poles
Chicago Bears
Position: General manager
Personal information
Born: (1985-09-20) September 20, 1985 (age 39)
Canandaigua, New York, U.S.
Career information
High school: Canandaigua (NY)
College: Boston College (2003–2007)
Undrafted: 2008
Career history
As a player:
 * Offseason and/or practice squad member only
As a coach:
As an executive:
  • Kansas City Chiefs (2009)
    Scouting assistant
  • Kansas City Chiefs (2010–2015)
    College scouting coordinator
  • Kansas City Chiefs (2016–2018)
    Director of college scouting
  • Kansas City Chiefs (2019–2020)
    Assistant director of player personnel
  • Kansas City Chiefs (2021)
    Executive director of player personnel
  • Chicago Bears (2022–present)
    General manager
Career highlights and awards

Ryan Poles (born September 20, 1985) is an American professional football executive and former offensive lineman who is the general manager of the Chicago Bears of the National Football League (NFL). Poles previously served as the executive director of player personnel for the Kansas City Chiefs and had served in various executive roles with the Chiefs for 13 seasons.

Contents

Early life

A native of Canandaigua, New York, Poles attended Canandaigua Academy before playing college football at Boston College as an offensive lineman from 2003 to 2007. Poles signed as an undrafted free agent with the Chicago Bears in 2008, but he did not make it on the 53-man roster and was cut. [1]

Executive career

Boston College

In 2008, following the end of his playing career, Poles returned to his alma mater Boston College as a graduate assistant and was involved in recruiting.

Kansas City Chiefs

In 2009, Poles was hired by the Kansas City Chiefs as a scouting assistant under general manager Scott Pioli. [2] In 2010, he was promoted to college scouting coordinator. In 2013, Poles was retained under new general manager John Dorsey.

In 2016, Poles was promoted to director of college scouting. Poles was retained and promoted to assistant director of player personnel in 2018 under new general manager Brett Veach. [3]

On June 9, 2021, Poles was promoted to executive director of player personnel. [4]

Chicago Bears

On January 25, 2022, Poles was named the general manager of the Chicago Bears, replacing Ryan Pace. [5] He hired Matt Eberflus as the team's head coach on January 27. [6] Poles' first significant move with the Bears was trading Pro Bowl linebacker Khalil Mack and his salary cap hit to the Los Angeles Chargers for a second-round pick in the 2022 NFL draft and a sixth-round pick in 2023. [7]

At the 2022 trade deadline, Poles traded linebacker Roquan Smith to the Baltimore Ravens for A. J. Klein, along with second and fifth-round picks in the 2023 NFL draft. Smith and the Bears were unable to negotiate a long-term contract extension prior to the trade. [8] Poles also traded the Bears' own 2023 second round pick (ultimately pick 32) to the Pittsburgh Steelers for wide receiver Chase Claypool. The Bears traded Claypool and a seventh-round pick to Miami for a 2025 sixth-round pick less than a year later. [9] The Bears finished the 2022 season with a league-worst (3–14) record and secured the first overall pick in 2023 NFL draft. [10]

On March 10, 2023, Poles traded the first overall pick to the Carolina Panthers in exchange for their 9th and 61st overall picks in the 2023 NFL draft, a 1st-round pick in 2024, a 2nd-round pick in 2025, and wide receiver D. J. Moore. [11] The Panthers finished the following 2023 NFL season with the worst NFL record, giving the Bears the first overall pick again in the 2024 NFL Draft. [12] Poles used the draft capital to refresh the team's roster, drafting tackle Darnell Wright in 2023 and Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Caleb Williams in 2024, [13] [14] while also trading for Pro-Bowl wide receiver Keenan Allen. [15]

Personal life

Poles is married to his wife, Katie, and they have two children together. Poles graduated from Boston College with a degree in communications in 2007.

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References

  1. ↑ Abriano, Danny (January 19, 2022). "Get to know Giants GM finalist Ryan Poles, a rising star in the Chiefs front office". Yahoo Sports. Retrieved January 21, 2022.
  2. ↑ Beasley, Adam (January 19, 2022). "Who is Ryan Poles? New York Giants to conduct second interview with Chiefs' draft strategist". profootballnetwork.com. Retrieved January 21, 2022.
  3. ↑ Conner, Matt (May 27, 2017). "Chiefs name Ryan Poles as new Director of College Scouting". ArrowheadAddict.com. Retrieved January 21, 2022.
  4. ↑ "Chiefs Announce Personnel Staff Promotions; Club Introduces Norma Hunt Training Camp Fellowship Program". Kansas City Chiefs. June 9, 2021. Retrieved January 21, 2022.
  5. ↑ Mayer, Larry (January 25, 2022). "Bears hire Ryan Poles as general manager". Chicago Bears . Retrieved January 25, 2022.
  6. ↑ Potash, Mark (October 3, 2023). "1st-and-10: A second look at Ryan Poles' first hire". Chicago Sun-Times . Retrieved November 5, 2024.
  7. ↑ Barbieri, Alyssa (March 12, 2022). "Ryan Poles makes early statement with Khalil Mack trade". Bears Wire. USA Today.
  8. ↑ Patra, Kevin (October 31, 2022). "Bears trading LB Roquan Smith to Ravens for draft picks". NFL.com. Retrieved August 19, 2023.
  9. ↑ Patra, Kevin (October 6, 2023). "Bears trade WR Chase Claypool to Dolphins". NFL.com. Retrieved December 3, 2024.
  10. ↑ Lieser, Jason (January 8, 2023). "Bears get No. 1 pick in draft after loss to Vikings, Texans' stunner vs. Colts". Chicago Sun-Times . Retrieved January 8, 2023.
  11. ↑ "Hub Arkush: GM Ryan Poles puts Bears in fantastic position after Friday's blockbuster deal with Panthers". Shaw Local. March 11, 2023. Retrieved March 11, 2023.
  12. ↑ Kane, Colleen (January 7, 2024). "Week 18 recap: Chicago Bears lose their season finale 17-9 to the Green Bay Packers, who clinch the final NFC playoff spot". Chicago Tribune . Retrieved January 7, 2024.
  13. ↑ Mayer, Larry (April 26, 2024). "Bears draft QB Caleb Williams with No. 1 pick". Chicago Bears. Retrieved November 5, 2024.
  14. ↑ Mayer, Larry (April 27, 2023). "Bears trade down, draft Tennessee OT Darnell Wright at No. 10". ChicagoBears.com. Retrieved June 19, 2023.
  15. ↑ Mayer, Larry (March 14, 2024). "Roster Move: Bears acquire 6-time Pro Bowl WR Keenan Allen". ChicagoBears.com. Retrieved March 14, 2024.
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