Wow! Where do I start? Let me start by saying I haven't been this excited for Bears football since the 2007 Super Bowl, and even then I knew that Bears regime was not one of championship caliber. In my opinion, they overachieved and caught quite a few lucky bounces. From top to bottom the organization was barely better than the Ryan Pace/Matt Nagy era. But this time is different! This excitement stems from the very depth of my heart and core of my soul. If you know you know! Those close to me can vouch (even though it's not needed because I know) that my General Manager (GM) skills are second to none. I can see success in an organization years before it materializes, and it starts from the top and trickles all the way down to the bottom. Ownership, GM, coach, players, etc.; you must check these boxes as they are all very important. But let's be clear, GM is absolutely vital to an organization's success, and we got our guy. A Blueprint to Success Let me stray away from football for a second to touch on this subject a little bit more in detail. In April 2020 (just two short years ago) the Chicago Bulls made a move that would change the future of their franchise from mediocre (and that's being kind) to an elite franchise for years to come. This was the hiring of current Executive Vice President (EXVP) Artūras Karnišovas! Fast forward to today and the Bulls are top contenders in the Eastern Conference thanks in large part to the work of Karnišovas. It took Karnišovas less than two years to overhaul the Bulls and place them on a contending path after years of, well let's be honest, some of the worst management, coaching, and basketball anyone with love for the sport should ever have to endure. So how did they do it? Ironically the Bears are quite similar to the Bulls with their approach and make up from top to bottom. Neither team has had great ownership in terms of producing a consistent culture of winning or a winner’s mentality; but this time they both got it right. So how did they do it? The answer is simple: GM (as I stated before). This position in my opinion is the most vital to any championship organization. Although Artūras Karnišovas is listed as EXVP for the Chicago Bulls he is a GM at heart and that is where he has excelled and made his mark in the NBA. Ultimately, he is making all the important basketball decisions when it comes to the Chicago Bulls with the help of a strong cast of well-respected and knowledgeable basketball minds that he has appointed around him. The Trickle-Down Effect By naming Artūras Karnišovas EXVP, the Chicago Bulls were able to bring in another well-respected GM, and that they did. Karnišovas quickly nabbed his guy in Marc Eversley who is seen around the league as a future star at the position. Next Karnišovas made Billy Donovan his first hire at head coach stating , “he has won everywhere his career has taken him,” and he wasn't kidding. Billy Donovan’s road to becoming the 21st full-time head coach in Bulls history is as long as it is decorated. During his collegiate and NBA coaching career Donavon has coached the like of Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, James Harden, Paul George, Chris Paul, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Joakim Noah, Al Horford, Bradley Beal, Corey Brewer, Jason Williams, Mike Miller, Udonis Haslem. Karnišovas brought Donovan in to develop players and in two short years has rostered a talented bunch that Billy now has the chance to coach. Players such as Lonzo Ball, DeMar DeRozan, and Zach Lavine. (Be on the lookout for my detailed article dedicated to Donovan’s career and accomplishments.)
I am excited to see what happens going forward. OK enough about the Bulls. Now how about those Bears?
Bear Down!
Coincidentally, the Bears path is very similar. First let me start by pointing out the move that made it all possible. The problem became the solution: The McCaskey family. The McCaskey family finally got out of their own way and gave up the reigns of this storied franchise to someone who actually knew what they were doing – that would be the likes of highly the decorated (and respected in many circles) former Buffalo Bills GM, Bill Polian. Giving up the reigns is probably not the right choice of words, but they hired him as a consultant in search of their next GM which leads me to believe he made the call to hire Ryan Poles. Well, he definitely made the call because it's the first time they got it right in 40 years.
Ryan Poles is exactly what this organization desperately needed. Tough minded, proven, young and hungry. He is a former offensive lineman with a passion and unique understanding of the game. There is a grittiness and nastiness you must endure and embody to play offensive or defensive line. He is from the trenches and like any rough neighborhood in the inner city it takes a certain type of build and make up to survive there. It's a mindset. It takes a certain type character, and it builds certain types of characteristics. This is not for the weak hearted, hence, the team he will field will not only be skillful and strategically assembled, they will take on those very characteristics it takes to survive on the battlefield.
This concept represents exactly what Chicago is tough, gritty, resilient, brave, and anything but soft!
The Trickle Keeps Trickling
Like the Bulls’ EXVP, Artūras Karnišovas, Ryan Poles moved quickly to get who many regard as the best up and coming GM in the business, Ian Cunningham. Cunningham was named to The Athletics’ NFL 40 Under 40 as one of the league's rising stars. In February, at 36, he became one of the highest-ranking African Americans in an NFL front office when he was hired as assistant GM of the Bears. Like Poles, Cunningham was a college offensive lineman, so they share the same passion and mindset. Cunningham was instrumental in both the Ravens and Eagles organizations, where he served as a scout and Director of Player Personnel. In that time, he's accumulated two Super Bowls, one with each team.
Defense Wins Championships!
I love what Ryan Poles did next. While everyone was pulling and lobbying for an offensive minded coach to pair with their, now franchise quarterback, Justin Fields, Poles stayed true to what the Chicago Bears are and hired a defensive coordinator from the Indianapolis Colts, Matt Eberflus. With the culture we are trying to establish I couldn't think of a better hire, especially considering the names on the market. Eberflus embodies that toughness, passion, and character that Poles and Ian Cunningham are looking for. Under Eberflus, the Colts were the only NFL defensive unit to be ranked in the top-10 in scoring, run defense, and takeaways each of their past two seasons, with finishes in the top 10 in the NFL in run defense and takeaways in all four of his years in Indianapolis. His defensive units were top 10 in points allowed in three out of those four seasons. Not to mention they were the least penalized defense in the league in 2019 and 2021.Coach Eberflus has an undeniable love for the game. His passionate and high energy style demands maximum efforts and accountability from each and every player.
Matt Eberflus’s HITS philosophy will be used to reshape the culture of this team.
HITS is an acronym for "Hustle, Intensity, Takeaways, and (playing) Smart," that will be the driving force behind a Chicago Bears defense that will bring back the Monsters of the Midway and put fear into opponents for years to come.
Prepare to Bear down Chicago Bears fans because this is going to be a heart pounding, exciting, electrifying thriller from start to finish. In the great words of my dear friend Michael Buffer "LETS GET READY TO RUMBLEEEEEE!"
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