Speaking to the media Tuesday, general manager Ryan Poles detailed how the Bears will cast a wide net and leave no stone unturned in their search for a new head coach.
"We've taken the last month or so to prepare our process," said Poles, who is leading the search. "We've taken time to look back at the past processes to make sure we're making changes and adjusting so that this is an absolute success. We've been in information-gathering mode looking at data research, making countless calls to make sure that we have everything we need to make a sound decision.
"We're going to cast a wide net. It's going to be a diverse group. This will be different backgrounds from offense, defense, special teams, college, pro. We're turning every stone to make sure we're doing this the right way. We believe that is going to be really, really important. There's going to be some names that you don't expect that are going to surprise you because we're digging deeper than we ever have before."
In terms of traits in a new head coach, Poles said the Bears are looking for "clear vision, a developmental mindset, really good game management, and obviously a plan to develop a quarterback is going to be a key part of that as well."
As far as a timetable, Poles said the Bears intend to "move with urgency, but we're not going to rush the process because we want it to be a sound process."
The general manager revealed that the Bears will explore all options, including trading draft capital to a team in exchange for their head coach, if they feel he's the best option.
"We'll look at all avenues to get the best coach here," he said.
Poles vowed that the search process will be thorough and successful.
"It's adding more data to the equation," he said. "It's digging deeper with our research. Also knowing the team and where it is right now, knowing it better than I ever have before, that's important. As you go along, you gain wisdom every single year and every single experience that you go through, and that helps you make better decisions as you go."
Interviews that Poles conducts with candidates will also include chairman George H. McCaskey, team president/CEO Kevin Warren, director of football administration Matt Feinstein, senior director of player personnel Jeff King, executive vice president of people and culture/chief human resources officer Liz Geist, and special advisor to the President/CEO and chief administrative officer Ted Crews as well as other executive vice presidents and senior vice presidents. Assistant general manager Ian Cunningham also will participate when possible, but Poles wants Cunningham to focus on preparing for his own interviews if other teams approach him about GM positions.
Poles was asked whether the Bears will seek an offensive-minded head coach to get the most out of promising young quarterback Caleb Williams or a leader-of-men type.
"I think for a young quarterback, there's an ideal fit," Poles said. "But at the end of the day, you've got to look at all the characteristics of what you're looking for in a head coach, and then you've got to see what's the best bundle of those to bring in the building.
"We're talking about leadership, accountability, some of those important things that carry over. Regardless of what the situation is, those have to be there. To ignore those just to go to the other side, I think that's a bad deal too. Really, it's the candidate that has the best collection of all those things. Yes, the development of a young quarterback is going to be a huge factor in that."
After being selected by the Bears with the No. 1 overall pick in the draft, Williams set franchise rookie records with 351 completions, 3,541 yards and 20 touchdowns. He became the first Bears quarterback to start every game in a season since Jay Cutler in 2009 and produced a streak of 353 straight pass attempts without an interception that is the fourth longest in NFL history.
"Looking at Caleb, I thought he did some really good things, but I also know that there's so much more left in him, in his game and his skillset," Poles said. "I loved the flashes that he showed. I loved the two-minute drills and his ability to put the team in a position to win games multiple times this season. That's a championship-caliber trait. We watched that happen a lot, and we're going to continue to build off of that."
Poles wants the new head coach to bring discipline and accountability to the Bears.
"One important thing is we look at the wins and losses, but you've got to go to the root cause on how we got there," he said. "I do think we need to challenge our guys more. And when we talk about accountability, there's systems of accountability. It's how we're going to put tape up of 'this is not how we do it,' and then with examples of 'this is how we do it.' Sometimes that can be uncomfortable. I call that healthy friction and I definitely think we need more of that, and that would help result in closing the gap on some of these games that we came up short."
Poles took responsibility for the Bears' record in 2024.
"Looking back at the season, we're not happy with the results," he said. "It has been a long season where those Mondays have been very, very difficult to review after we have come up short. And I have to take responsibility as the leader of the football operation for that. I also have to make sure that we find solutions to make sure that we don't make that mistake again and we can continue to improve.
"I think anytime you have struggle, but I also think when you have success, too, it's important to listen, reflect, learn and adjust to make sure that you're putting yourself in a good position. I also think part of that is taking a look in the mirror to make sure that just in terms of myself as a leader, I'm doing everything that I can to help our football team."
One thing that Poles believes will help is prioritizing process over outcome.
"I think this year with the excitement of the season, it was very much outcome over process," he said. "Winning, expectations, goals are fine—you never want to back down from that—but the detail, the accountability, the competitive poise in critical situations, finding an edge to win games is something that we came up short with.
"As a front office, we've got to continue to add talent to this roster. We have to make sure that the players we bring into this building also fit the culture that we want so we can continue to make strides forward. So I'm disappointed just like our fans are, but I'm not discouraged. I believe we have a strong core of players that we're going to connect to the right staff as they come in to make the progress that's needed."
