who have taken over one of the great franchises in NFL
history. Bears, general manager, Ryan poles,
Bears, head coach
Maddie, brief loose,
you've taken over our desk. You look better on our desk than
Sims and I do
keep them out of here.
Hey,
Ron, let me start with you since you got the job first,
even if it was only by a few. Few days. How? Well did you two
know? Each other
before you started working together in Chicago?
Yeah, we had bumped into each other and shared some phone
calls just
you know, in terms of just networking getting to know
different people and you could tell just with our
conversations,
you know from the past that
we have some commonalities and
we saw things the same way.
Matt, let me ask ask it this way, since you were the second
guy in. I'm a big believer that the relationship between Jim
and coaches Paramount. There's going to be adversity, you need
to be able to work through it together and not, not be
tempted to blame each other for whatever is going wrong from
your view.
How important is that relationship? And how do you
plan to help craft the right relationship with Ryan? So when
the games begin in September, you'll be able to keep a tight
Bond.
Yeah, the relationship I think is Very important. I think it
starts with emotional stability. You know, you got to
have somebody that can think clearer
can think, you know quickly at times but also, you know, go
through the process of getting everybody involved
and that's what Ryan brings, you know, bringing coaches and
Scouts together. I think that's a really important piece and
I think Ryan and I
share the same views that way.
I'm at I'll stay with you on this during your time with
the Colts working with Frank Reich. What's the, what's the most
important thing you learn from him to prepare you for the job.
You now have
Yeah, his leadership was outstanding in terms of him,
letting guys do their jobs of giving input when he thinks
it's appropriate. And,
you know, really
working with every position coach.
He was go around every position coach and talk to them in their
offices. And I thought that was a great touch and he learned
a lot from what was going on in each room
that way. So I learned a lot from him
what an outstanding leader
and Ryan from your purse.
Fact, if you were in demand, the Vikings were interested,
I've heard great things about you. You were very well
touted around the League. What Drew you to Chicago, when you
did have other opportunities out there.
Yeah. I mean my past obviously it's a unique situation that
the first team I had opportunity to play with was
Chicago.
It's an unbelievable City, but then the rich tradition,
the rich tradition stands out. And all we want to do is live up to
that and get
get our teams to that standard and and add to that tradition.
And tell me what, what spoke to you as relates to Matt being
the right coach right now, for this team.
Yeah, leadership hands down. It was leadership. He has
a presence to them.
I always talk about, you know, being demanding,
you know, having discipline setting a standard, but also
the emotional intelligence in terms of
having a relationship with players because I think that's
important. They need to know that you're invested in them
for them to give it up for you and for the
So he has that blend and I think it's rare. It's Unique in
that really stood out to me through that process.
And that I'm going to raise a question for you that
I presented last year to Brandon Stanley, when he became
the head coach of the Chargers as a defensive coordinator, becoming
the head coach of a team with a Young quarterback who has one
year. And
I've said from time to time in a situation like that,
the relationship between whoever is running the offense and
the quarterback is critical. And if the team does, well,
the coordinator may become a head coach somewhere else.
How do you respond to that possibility? That if everything
goes, well, you may have a revolving door at that.
Critical position of offensive coordinator, given that you're
a defensive guy.
Yes, I think we put our system in. You know, we're going to
build it around, you know, Justin but also around
the skill set of our of our other players.
And I think what you do is you just it's a Chicago Bears offense
and if you know Luke
gets an opportunity in a year or two
to go and we have great success. He's certainly going
to have that opportunity. You would like to be able to
promote from within if possible. And then
also, what's nice about our system is that it's used
throughout the league. I mean our system Our family of
system. I should say,
is, you know, a third of the League's using it. So there's
a lot of quality coaches out there that could step in, use
the vernacular. We're going to use
and take it from there. But it's going to be the Chicago
Bears offense.
Where do you think the ceiling is Matt for your quarterback?
Justin fields?
Yeah, I think we're in process to that right now,
you know, to sit there and watch tape of just of his
rookie year to see to answer that question fully. I don't
think we can do that right now. I think we really have to
get our hands on him.
Start working with them,
understand him in the meetings, understand how he learns,
understanding that, you know how I process is the game
and then start just start teaching our system from there.
And I think once we get through training camp, I think we have
a pretty good idea.
Ryan. What's your number one priority in this offseason
phase? That we're in scouting. Combine free agency, and draft.
What's your number one thing you're looking to address for
the team?
Yeah, it's bringing in the like-minded guys into this
organization, guys, that reflect what we talked about in
terms of discipline, in terms of playing hard practicing hard
playing with intelligence.
So it's really grabbing that culture and bringing a bunch of
guys in that reflect that because I truly believe. If you
can add
those pieces that believe that you can create your core
and have a strong culture
and we can just keep stacking
from there.
Matt, there's so much talk in the NFL now about analytics and
I think there's some misconceptions about how
they're used when they're used, why they used. But give me
an idea of what your approach will be. When we hear about
the chart, the chart saying, go for it on fourth down, the chart,
saying, go 4-2 in this situation or
go for it on Fourth and goal. Whatever the case may be.
How much will you be driven by predetermined formulas versus
the decisions that you make in the moment considering all
other factors that may be going on.
Yeah, that's a that's a great question. I think analytics,
you know, fuels your instincts to make a statement to start
out. But really
I think it changes by game. I mean, you know what happens in
the flow of a game. Who are you playing? How's your defense
plan that day? How is your offense playing that day and
I think you make the decision based on what you help helps,
your team win the football game
at that time. So I don't think that you know, if it's a dark
green,
you know at this particular situation that you would always
say. Yes, we're doing it. I think you got to use your
instincts and use Common Sense too.
Last question and I want both of you to chime in on this one.
How badly are you hoping that Aaron Rodgers leaves the Packers
let you into the first
we as we know Aaron's a great player and you know, they got
a good football team and
we'll see what happens.
Yeah,
the guys that go ahead. Go ahead.
Nope. Good. Well, hey
Ryan.
Matt, we appreciate your time. We know it's a busy time for
both of you. We wish you all the best. Congratulations on.
Getting these jobs, Chicago's a special place, and it's
a special fan base and they are crying out for a contender. We
wish you all the best
as you try to put one together for the Bears and we look
forward to talking to you again, down the road.
All right. Thank you. Appreciate it. Thank you.