LAKE FOREST, Ill. (670 The Score) — During the course of this transformational offseason at Halas Hall as the future of the Bears was defined, general manager Ryan Poles brought a book for his front office staff to read.
Poles presented a New York Times No. 1 bestseller titled “The Wisdom of the Bullfrog: Leadership Made Simple (But Not Easy),” written by former Navy SEAL Admiral William H. McRaven. One excerpt from the book stuck with Poles as the Bears reported for training camp Friday at the start of a much-anticipated new season.
The only easy day was yesterday.
Over the last three offseasons, Poles and his brass have overhauled the Bears roster they inherited – tearing it down to the studs in early 2022 and rebuilding it ever since. Alongside head coach Matt Eberflus and his staff, they've led the development of a team with hopes of sustained success to come.
The Bears reported for training camp as a team that many believe is on the brink of great days to come. But yesterday was the easy part of this process. The real challenge now lies ahead.
“I just want to continue to improve,” Poles said. “Our goal – I’ve never backed away from it – our goal is always to win the Super Bowl and take the division, and I feel like we’re continuing to get closer and closer to that. So, I’m excited to find out what that ceiling is.”
The season ahead for the Bears will begin in earnest Saturday morning, when the team holds its first practice of training camp at Halas Hall.
The Bears are considered a team that's capable of making the jump from the bottom of the division standings to the playoffs. That brings higher expectations for a franchise that hasn’t won a playoff game since January 2011.
“This thing is about winning,” Bears tight end Cole Kmet said. “And you’ve got to go win playoff games and go win the Super Bowl. That’s what this is all about.”
While the Bears feature a roster that’s built to win, they must balance urgency with patience. Quarterback Caleb Williams, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, is a rookie going through all of this for the first time.
Veterans like Kmet, six-time Pro Bowl receiver Keenan Allen and new running back D’Andre Swift will be ready to roll in a new-look offense, but the 22-year-old Williams will have hurdles to overcome.
“It’s Year 1,” Williams said. “There's going to be times where it's going to be tough, times where it's going to be good. Tough times, you keep going. Good times, you also keep going. So, that’s always how I like to kind of think about it. Progression is key and keep doing that over time. You know I'll be able to reach the goals at the end of my career, and we can reach the goal at the end of the year as a team.
"I've kind of put myself in this position many times before I became a Chicago Bear on the 25th of April and then now. So, it's just kind of seeing it before it happens. Just keep progressing, understand the position I am in and keep going."
Williams will be at the forefront of the Bears’ work throughout training camp. He was named the team’s starting quarterback almost immediately after being selected with the No. 1 overall pick as part of the Bears' plan for his development as a rookie. Rather than signing a veteran placeholder at quarterback, the Bears have given Williams the full workload with their starting offense during the offseason program.
The Bears have surrounded Williams with talent on offense that they believe will help them quickly establish an identity. Now, it’s up to him to lead the group forward. On the other side of the line will be a defense that boasts continuity and great potential. Its goal is to emerge as a top-five defense in the league.
“You never really worry about things that you can't control,” Bears linebacker Tremaine Edmunds said. “Things that we can control is how we work, day in and day out, showing up for our brothers, holding each other accountable. Everything on the outside as far as that will take care of itself. You put your focus on being your best every day, and that's individually. Holding yourself to a higher regard, holding your brother to a higher regard. Everything else will take care of itself.
“We are definitely confident. We know what we have and now it's time to go to work."
When Williams lines up the starting offense Saturday morning against a defense ready to present a challenge, the vision is for the Bears to take important steps toward improvement. Eberflus’ third year as head coach will be judged carefully by whether the Bears have showcased progress.
Jobs will be on the line throughout a season as the Bears have elevated goals and higher hopes. The time is now for this team to meet the moment.
Yesterday was easy for the Bears. Now, it all really begins.
“We start training camp and have the ability to define that in terms of what our ceiling is," Poles said.
Chris Emma covers the Bears, Chicago’s sports scene and more for 670TheScore.com. Follow him on Twitter @CEmma670 .
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