Chicago Bears insider makes bold claim on Ben Johnson-Ryan Poles dynamic

Amid an offseason and NFL hiring cycle defined by conversations and conjecture about the power structure within organizations, haggled over between ownership and prospective head coaches, the Chicago Bears seem to have a dynamic partnership in place.

In just one offseason, general manager Ryan Poles and first-year head coach Ben Johnson added centerpiece-caliber personnel that helped propel Chicago from a last-place finish in the NFC North in 2024 to winning the division and a playoff game in 2025.

Whether it was signing offensive lineman Drew Dalman, trading for Joe Thuney and Jonah Jackson, or drafting tight end Colston Loveland and wide receiver Luther Burden, Poles, Johnson, and the Bears added the kind of players necessary both to fast-track quarterback Caleb Williams‘ development and jumpstart an overdue rebuild.

Ben Johnson’s and Ryan Poles’ Chicago Bears power dynamic revealed

In New York, negotiations between the Giants and John Harbaugh became protracted over the front office structure, with Harbaugh ultimately winning over the ability to report directly to John Mara rather than general manager Joe Schoen.

After the Bears’ season-ending loss to the Los Angeles Rams, Chicago Tribune Bears insider Brad Biggs offered major insight into the Poles-Johnson dynamic.

“Ben Johnson is the top football guy at Halas Hall right now. That’s not a knock on Ryan Poles at all,” Biggs said, during an appearance on 670 The Score. “There’s no way that Ryan Poles is going to go out and make some transaction to bring in some player that Ben doesn’t want.”

.@BradBiggs on Bears: “Ben Johnson is the top football guy at Halas Hall right now. That’s not a knock on Ryan Poles at all.

“There’s no way that Ryan Poles is going to go out and make some transaction to bring in some player that Ben doesn’t want.” pic.twitter.com/zZ7hr85c2a

— 670 The Score (@thescorechicago) January 22, 2026

It would certainly make sense, after the Bears’ success in Johnson’s first season, and the fact that the former Detroit Lions offensive coordinator took this job specifically, that the head coach would have significant say over personnel.

However it is that the Bears’ front office is currently structured, and whatever the balance of power between final say is inside Halas Hall, Chicago would be wise to double down on the same philosophy deployed last season to keep building around one of the youngest, most exciting, and up-and-coming rosters in football.

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