GM Ryan Poles navigates new challenges as Chicago Bears training camp opens: ‘There’s something new literally every single day’

Thirty minutes into the Chicago Bears’ first news conference of training camp Tuesday, Ryan Poles’ serious facade cracked into a smile and a laugh when a reporter suggested the general manager surely must be more excited than his expression showed.

For the record, Poles, thus far pretty reserved in media settings, is thrilled to be opening his first camp as Bears GM when practices begin Wednesday. He already felt the buzz around Halas Hall on Tuesday as players reported. He’s looking forward to the moments, perhaps weeks from now, when units start to jell and personalities emerge.

“I love to see guys develop along the way,” he said. “They may be somewhere on the bottom of the depth chart and they work themselves up to surprise starter, and it’s one of the coolest things to see.”

So, yes, Poles is excited, but he’s also a first-year GM who had to address a bundle of challenges over the last few months — from linebacker Roquan Smith’s reported intention to sit out practices during contract negotiationsto rookie safety Jaquan Brisker’s prolonged contract talks to a trio of player arrests.

The issues are nothing extraordinary. GMs deal with holdouts, contract squabbles and players’ legal issues every year. But they still made for an eventful first offseason for Poles, whose bumps have sometimes caused as much buzz as his calculated free-agent additions.

“You’ve got to take one thing at a time,” Poles said. “That’s a part of this job. There’s something new literally every single day, there’s something thrown at you and you’ve got to make decisions, you’ve got to get with your team, you’ve got to talk through things, and you want to do what’s best for the Bears at the end of the day.

“I feel like it’s going well. Again, there are going to be more things on the way and we’re just going to keep chipping away and working through them.”

The list of items on which reporters pressed Poles on Tuesday started with Smith.

The Bears GM declined to address Smith’s practice and contract statuses.

“I don’t know what his intentions are,” Poles said. “I know he has checked in (to camp). And we’re going to take it from there and gather information and take this one step at a time. That’s all I can do.”

Edge rusher Robert Quinn, who skipped organized team activities and mandatory minicamp, also was in the building. Poles said Quinn hasn’t approached him with a trade request despite speculation to the contrary. But it’s unclear if Quinn will practice Wednesday.

“I would hope that he wants to be here, so nothing’s changed on that front,” Poles said.

However, Brisker has been signed and is ready to practice after waiting to arrive until his rookie deal was complete.

“I gave him a big hug when I saw him, and I am excited for him and the direction he is going,” Poles said of the safety.

Poles also had to address the offseason arrests of wide receiver Byron Pringle for reckless driving on a suspended license, wide receiver David Moore for possession of a controlled substance and unlawful carrying of weapons and linebacker Matt Adams for unlawful firearm possession.

“As a manager, it bothered me a lot,” Poles said. “Anytime your phone goes off and there’s an issue, you’ve got to take responsibility. It’s on my watch. So it absolutely bothered me. … I had conversations about how I felt about it. We gathered information and we’re taking that through the process and handling it in what I think is the right way.”

Poles said he has been leaning on his “crew” to navigate the stream of challenges, which earlier this offseason also included the failed physical and decision not to sign defensive tackle Larry Ogunjobi, who would have been Poles’ prized free-agent acquisition.

“I’ve got a bunch of really good people up there,” Poles said. “The same conversations from the draft don’t change when we get into this situation. We get together. We talk about it. And we try to find out what’s the best route to put the organization in the best situation.”

Amid all of that, Poles also has continued to try to build up the Bears roster around second-year quarterback Justin Fields, including addressing questions at wide receiver and offensive line.

Poles said he likes new wide receiver N’Keal Harry’s traits and desire to prove himself after a failed tenure with the New England Patriots prompted the trade to Chicago for a 2024 seventh-round draft pick. But Poles also mentioned continuing to look for playmakers for an offensive group with few proven stars.

And he thinks veterans Riley Reiff and Michael Schofield will fit in to the offensive line competition with their athleticism, quickness, toughness and intelligence.

“If everyone is competing, we’re going to get the best out of that unit,” he said.

It has been several years since Poles, who spent his previous 13 seasons with the Kansas City Chiefs, entered training camp with a team with as many uncertainties as he has in his first rebuilding season with the Bears.

So while he still spoke of the usual lofty goals that GMs float in the heat of summer — being the best version of themselves, going after the division, making the playoffs, winning the Super Bowl — he also acknowledged the steps it takes to be a team that can chase them.

“There was a journey to get to where you don’t have (to look for) answers,” Poles said of his time with the Chiefs. “I was part of that. You’re relentless in your attempt to improve the football team by bringing in the right players and by making sure guys are put in a position to succeed as well.”

Some days, that journey might be exciting. And on others, Poles is going to have a whole list of challenges to sift through.