Photo: Kimberly P. Mitchell/USA TODAY Sports

Ryan Poles Says Bears Fans Need to Look Forward, Embrace Caleb Williams

Originally posted on On Tap Sports Net | By Pat Boadway | Last updated 4/26/24

The Chicago Bears won the 2024 NFL Draft already and we've only seen the first round go by. Ryan Poles brought in the face of the franchise in quarterback Caleb Williams and gave him an exciting new weapon eight picks later: Washington wide receiver Rome Odunze.

After the first round concluded on Thursday night, Poles spoke to reporters and voiced his thoughts.

Ryan Poles on Bringing the Future to the Bears

Reporters asked Poles about the Bears' history at the quarterback position, which isn't illustrious by modern standards. Poles responded with impunity:

Bears fans haven't had a lot to be proud of over the last four decades. With a handful of playoff appearances and only six postseason wins since hoisting the Lombardi Trophy after the 1985 season, the Bears are due.

Poles knows this city is hungry for a championship and he's provided a significant foundation in his first three years. But the Bears can acknowledge the past adversity while still focusing on the future.

Bears GM Ryan Poles: “If you told me we’d end up with both Caleb and Rome weeks ago, I would’ve said you were crazy.” pic.twitter.com/JHnGAEURQV
— Kevin Fishbain (@kfishbain) April 26, 2024

If Caleb Williams truly is the "real deal ," Rome Odunze becomes a massive offensive threat, and the Bears start winning games — one day a Super Bowl — fans won't go back to reminiscing about the 1985 season.

The conversation will shift to which person the Bears build a statue of and that's a better problem to have than attempting to keep a 40-year-old "dream team" alive long after the game they played is unrecognizable.

This article first appeared on On Tap Sports Net and was syndicated with permission.

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