Ben Johnson says Ryan Poles is in charge of the Chicago Bears' trade deadline decisions, but the head coach made clear the two are speaking constantly as the front office works through what the roster needs now and in the future.
With the November 10 trade deadline approaching, the Bears have been front and center in speculation for weeks. They have been linked to multiple defensive additions, and reports earlier in the week said Chicago had checked on Indianapolis Colts guard Quenton Nelson and defensive tackle DeForest Buckner after the Colts sent both players elsewhere.
Poles is driving the deadline plan
Johnson was asked about the Bears' role in the trade market and pointed first to Poles. “Well, yeah, there’s a lot going on,” Johnson said, before adding that it is “certainly Ryan’s domain” even if the pair keep a running dialogue about the roster.
That matters because this is not a one-off conversation. Johnson said the two are constantly discussing where the team can improve and how any move might help not just this season, but in years to come. In other words, this is about more than simply making noise before the deadline. It is about balancing urgency with long-term value.
Why the Buckner link carried more weight
The Bears' reported interest in DeForest Buckner was described as more serious than their interest in Quenton Nelson because of a need on the defensive line. That tracks with the kind of roster work deadline week often demands: identifying where a contender can get better quickly without forcing a move that does not fit the bigger picture.
Johnson also said Poles is “turning over every stone” as Chicago evaluates its options. That is the clearest sign yet that the Bears are not sitting back and waiting for the market to come to them. They are active, and they are clearly willing to consider defensive help if the right deal emerges.
What comes next for the Bears
For now, the key point is simple. Ben Johnson is involved in the conversation, but Ryan Poles is handling the trade deadline process, and the Bears are still weighing where they can make the biggest impact. With the deadline approaching and the defensive market already shifting, Chicago's next move will tell us plenty about how aggressively it views this season.
