Legendary Bears coach Mike Ditka once said that George Halas threw around nickels like they were manhole covers, an implication that Halas was cheap. That belief has persisted about Bears ownership throughout the years, but it's time to finally lay that to rest after team chairman George McCaskey spared no expense in winning Johnson's favor.

Bears general manager Ryan Poles is expected to receive a contract extension to align him with head coach Ben Johnson.

Before becoming the head coach, Ben Johnson stressed organizational alignment as an important factor, which at the time seemingly ruled the Chicago Bears out of the race. National media routinely reported that Johnson wanted to pair up with his own general manager.