Bears general manager Ryan Poles is not one of those smug authority figures who thinks he’s the smartest guy in the room, has all the answers and bristles at any suggestion he’s doing something wrong.
At 36, he’s unpolished, but also confident, resolute, sincere and as humble as a rookie GM for a founding NFL franchise should be. So far, he looks the part — a young, forward-thinking guy who grew up in the trenches, learned well during his 13 years in the Chiefs School of Management and has a good grasp of 21st-century athletes, technology and culture. Most of all the athletes — what makes them tick and how they need to be managed. Let’s put it this way: If he gets the quarterback right, he’ll be a success.
