WEBVTT - Setting sights on 2025 | Bears, etc. Podcast 0:00:00.640 --> 0:00:05.880 Cut open that Dj Moore nisode Touchdown, Touchdown Bear. 0:00:06.080 --> 0:00:07.360 I am Jeff joniya. 0:00:07.520 --> 0:00:10.760 Blitz his ho Donnie go R? 0:00:11.960 --> 0:00:14.880 What was like playing for coache goodgo I don't want 0:00:14.880 --> 0:00:17.040 to answer any questions like that pressure coming is a 0:00:17.040 --> 0:00:23.320 big trouble. Donnie Goes Montest Sweat. 0:00:25.520 --> 0:00:26.680 Now Bears, et Cetera. 0:00:26.800 --> 0:00:29.520 Brought to you by Geico with the voices of the Bears, 0:00:29.600 --> 0:00:31.320 Jeff Joniac and Tom Thayer. 0:00:32.720 --> 0:00:34.400 Just like that, the one hundred and fifth season and 0:00:34.440 --> 0:00:36.560 Bears history comes to a close at five and twelve, 0:00:36.560 --> 0:00:38.559 but with a sterling and signature win at Green Bay 0:00:38.600 --> 0:00:40.960 to open the twenty twenty five calendar. Year one that 0:00:41.040 --> 0:00:44.200 begins with a significant, thorough and broad head coaching search 0:00:44.479 --> 0:00:47.120 with a long list of potential candidates including interiroom head 0:00:47.120 --> 0:00:49.600 coach Thomas Brown with Super Bowl winning Bears guard Tom Thayer. 0:00:49.800 --> 0:00:50.720 I'm Jeff Joniac. 0:00:50.760 --> 0:00:53.559 Episode one, twenty six Hope the Bears et Cetera podcast 0:00:53.640 --> 0:00:56.440 is brought to you by Geico. Tommy Tuesday here at 0:00:56.440 --> 0:00:59.240 Hadi saw a review of what has transpired in a 0:00:59.240 --> 0:01:02.160 preview of what next from general manager Ryan Poles. We're 0:01:02.160 --> 0:01:04.120 gonna hear comments from him as well as President and 0:01:04.160 --> 0:01:06.760 CEO Kevin Warren. They went off to the side in 0:01:06.880 --> 0:01:11.360 midway at hallisall and Chairman George hallis McCaskey as well. Overall, 0:01:11.840 --> 0:01:16.000 everybody's upset to what's happened and now looking forward to 0:01:16.040 --> 0:01:19.520 what's next. And what's next part is what's got everybody excited, 0:01:19.600 --> 0:01:22.399 how they're gonna turn this thing into a positive and 0:01:22.440 --> 0:01:25.200 how they're gonna make this thing sing like they all 0:01:25.240 --> 0:01:27.679 wanted to, all the parties involved. And I know it's 0:01:27.720 --> 0:01:30.080 important to you how that all turned out in the 0:01:30.120 --> 0:01:33.560 Packers game. I was talking to several people here in 0:01:33.600 --> 0:01:35.360 the building today, Tommy about. 0:01:35.080 --> 0:01:37.280 That, just what it meant to everybody. 0:01:37.360 --> 0:01:40.240 And it may not mean much in the big picture 0:01:40.360 --> 0:01:42.800 for the standings and all that, and what's happened doesn't 0:01:42.840 --> 0:01:45.800 put us off on the wound of the big picture, 0:01:45.880 --> 0:01:48.520 but you got to take these small snapshots now and 0:01:48.560 --> 0:01:49.160 build from it. 0:01:49.760 --> 0:01:51.080 Everybody, remember where you were. 0:01:51.120 --> 0:01:53.440 You and I were up in the booth in lambeau Field, 0:01:53.480 --> 0:01:55.960 and we couldn't have felt happier about the Bears winning 0:01:56.040 --> 0:01:58.320 the game because the way they did it, they didn't 0:01:58.360 --> 0:02:00.760 lose sight of what was important to that even though 0:02:01.080 --> 0:02:03.680 they had an interruption then they got the ball back. 0:02:03.720 --> 0:02:06.840 They made some complete plays, got the ball into a 0:02:06.840 --> 0:02:09.520 position where they gave it to Cairo and he was 0:02:09.560 --> 0:02:12.000 able to finish it with the game winning field goal. 0:02:12.200 --> 0:02:13.560 That was super exciting to me. 0:02:14.080 --> 0:02:15.840 I'm not going to lie to you, but I think 0:02:15.880 --> 0:02:18.040 when you look at the locker room, all these guys 0:02:18.080 --> 0:02:20.480 have to remember what that feeling was like. 0:02:21.120 --> 0:02:21.840 Not only the. 0:02:21.840 --> 0:02:25.080 Sense of accomplishment, but like Kevin Warren said, the commitment 0:02:25.120 --> 0:02:29.040 to before game that you knew what you were up for. 0:02:29.120 --> 0:02:30.519 It was going to be cold, it was going to 0:02:30.520 --> 0:02:33.160 be unpleasant, you were fighting one of your biggest rivals 0:02:33.480 --> 0:02:35.200 in the one hundred and five year history of this 0:02:35.240 --> 0:02:38.080 football team. But you got to remember that moment coming 0:02:38.120 --> 0:02:40.240 back in the locker room. You just won that game, 0:02:40.560 --> 0:02:43.959 and see if that can catapult you to the successes 0:02:44.000 --> 0:02:47.400 in twenty twenty five that we had in twenty twenty four. 0:02:47.480 --> 0:02:51.000 But we believe they can still happen in this immediate future. 0:02:51.160 --> 0:02:53.520 And as much as anybody, the guy who benefits the 0:02:53.520 --> 0:02:56.840 most from that is Caleb Williams because he was in 0:02:56.840 --> 0:03:00.000 that position eight or nine times this season, bon his hands, 0:03:00.080 --> 0:03:02.960 fourth quarter, chance to take the lead, chance to win 0:03:03.040 --> 0:03:06.200 the game, and not every one of those were slotted 0:03:06.240 --> 0:03:08.720 in the win column. That one was, and it just 0:03:08.840 --> 0:03:12.320 kind of wipes everything clean. No more talk of this 0:03:12.440 --> 0:03:15.280 double digit losing streak, No more talk of this double 0:03:15.280 --> 0:03:16.959 digit losing streak to the Packers. 0:03:17.639 --> 0:03:19.840 Now, let's just see where it goes. See where the 0:03:19.840 --> 0:03:22.160 freeway goes. It's open road, open road. 0:03:22.200 --> 0:03:24.720 Tommy, Well, one hundred percent agree with you that it 0:03:24.760 --> 0:03:28.399 is important win for Caleb because you know, you kind 0:03:28.400 --> 0:03:30.920 of get an understanding, you get a feeling about the 0:03:30.960 --> 0:03:34.520 emotions that going to the visional games you played, and 0:03:34.560 --> 0:03:37.360 you started every single one of them. You know what 0:03:37.400 --> 0:03:40.440 the frustrating end results of a couple of those games 0:03:40.440 --> 0:03:43.160 were earlier in the season, and then you have that 0:03:43.240 --> 0:03:46.200 certain sense of accomplishment that you finish the season on 0:03:46.240 --> 0:03:49.280 a high note and it can really carry weight into 0:03:49.320 --> 0:03:54.560 the draft, the offseason preparation, the OTAs and everything that's 0:03:54.560 --> 0:03:57.839 set before you. So I think you kind of got 0:03:57.840 --> 0:03:59.960 to walk away with that game with a little bit 0:04:00.160 --> 0:04:05.360 of that last game high and really let that kind 0:04:05.400 --> 0:04:09.360 of resonate in understand what that feeling was like until 0:04:09.360 --> 0:04:09.960 the very. 0:04:09.880 --> 0:04:10.440 End, Tommy. 0:04:10.760 --> 0:04:14.800 Chairman George Allis McCaskey had plenty to say about Thomas. 0:04:14.880 --> 0:04:17.120 Brown said he did great work on behalf of the 0:04:17.120 --> 0:04:20.960 Bears in a very unusual situation, basically having three jobs 0:04:20.960 --> 0:04:24.760 in one season. Also knows that the fans are incredibly 0:04:24.800 --> 0:04:28.000 frustrated from the expectations he put it of September through 0:04:28.040 --> 0:04:31.640 the disappointment of December, but they still stuck with the Bears. 0:04:31.640 --> 0:04:33.960 They stuck with us, and that's what the Bears fans do. Says, 0:04:34.000 --> 0:04:36.000 they deserve a winner. We're going to do whatever we 0:04:36.040 --> 0:04:38.920 can to give them one. He's very disappointed, for example, 0:04:38.960 --> 0:04:41.920 in the Lions fans trying to take over Soldier Field 0:04:41.920 --> 0:04:44.839 buying up tickets. So he understands the passion of the 0:04:44.839 --> 0:04:48.279 fan base better than anybody, and the challenge for the Bears, 0:04:48.279 --> 0:04:49.839 as he put it, is to put a team on 0:04:49.880 --> 0:04:52.680 the field that Bears fans are so excited about they're 0:04:52.720 --> 0:04:55.960 not interested in selling those tickets. He's also excited about 0:04:56.040 --> 0:04:58.600 Ryan Poles and the plan he's got laid out, and 0:04:58.640 --> 0:05:00.440 that laid out plan we're going to get in to here. 0:05:00.800 --> 0:05:01.800 But it's broad. 0:05:01.920 --> 0:05:06.040 He indicated it was going to be a wide search 0:05:06.960 --> 0:05:09.960 and it's probably not over on the list of candidates 0:05:10.360 --> 0:05:13.080 that he's going to bring to the table. But they 0:05:13.120 --> 0:05:14.680 got a plan, They've worked on it for a month, 0:05:14.680 --> 0:05:16.400 and now they got to start executing that plan. 0:05:17.000 --> 0:05:19.640 You're right, though it is broad. There's a lot of search, 0:05:19.720 --> 0:05:22.160 There's a lot of stones that you have to overturn. 0:05:22.480 --> 0:05:24.400 There's a lot of research you have to do to 0:05:24.440 --> 0:05:27.360 see who is the best qualified for where the Bears 0:05:27.400 --> 0:05:30.000 are at right now, but where you ultimately want them 0:05:30.040 --> 0:05:32.760 to go and to have one of those center pieces 0:05:32.839 --> 0:05:35.600 like Caleb Williams. There's not going to be a lot 0:05:35.640 --> 0:05:37.240 of guys that are going to shy away from the 0:05:37.279 --> 0:05:40.680 opportunity to interview, So you have to have a strict 0:05:40.720 --> 0:05:43.520 process of your interviewing and make sure you answer every 0:05:43.600 --> 0:05:47.200 question that you Ryan Poles needs answer that's going to 0:05:47.320 --> 0:05:50.919 benefit the Chicago Bears. So I do think this is 0:05:51.080 --> 0:05:54.039 probably in the history of the Bears one of the 0:05:54.080 --> 0:05:57.839 more exciting times to be interviewed as the head coach. 0:05:58.360 --> 0:06:01.400 And I just think that there's going to be a 0:06:01.400 --> 0:06:04.960 lot of qualified candidates. You got to find out what 0:06:05.160 --> 0:06:07.960 best best fits the culture of the Bears and then 0:06:08.440 --> 0:06:11.039 be convicted about it and go strong forward. 0:06:11.800 --> 0:06:13.400 You'd love to be in a room with all these 0:06:13.400 --> 0:06:16.400 guys wondering what the plan is, you know, because everyone's 0:06:16.400 --> 0:06:17.960 going to have a different little take on it. 0:06:18.279 --> 0:06:19.120 And this whole. 0:06:18.880 --> 0:06:24.120 Notion though also about you know, the questions regarding what 0:06:24.640 --> 0:06:28.120 Ryan poles this contract may or may not be, and 0:06:28.160 --> 0:06:30.960 how that would impact the arrival of a coach not 0:06:31.400 --> 0:06:34.560 necessarily being on the same timeline and all that. I 0:06:34.600 --> 0:06:38.160 think Kevin Warren's correct, and I think Ryan's correct. This 0:06:38.200 --> 0:06:39.120 is a coveted job. 0:06:39.800 --> 0:06:40.200 Okay. 0:06:40.400 --> 0:06:43.559 I know things haven't gone well consistently here for a while. 0:06:43.600 --> 0:06:46.600 It's been an up and down ride. But it is Chicago. 0:06:47.040 --> 0:06:49.839 It is the charter franchise of the National Football League, 0:06:50.040 --> 0:06:52.800 and you know better than anybody, when you win here, 0:06:53.720 --> 0:06:54.679 your love forever. 0:06:54.960 --> 0:06:58.400 You're admired, you're cherished. And that's how passionate this fan 0:06:58.480 --> 0:06:59.840 base is. They just want to win. 0:07:00.640 --> 0:07:03.320 So I would believe that it'd be a long line 0:07:03.360 --> 0:07:05.760 of people say, hey, look at me, I'd like to 0:07:05.760 --> 0:07:08.839 do this. I don't think for one second somebody's going 0:07:08.880 --> 0:07:09.920 to run away from this job. 0:07:10.080 --> 0:07:10.720 Not a chance. 0:07:11.040 --> 0:07:13.400 Listen, if you're a guy that you want a head 0:07:13.440 --> 0:07:16.880 coaching job, you're willing to make some concessions. You're not 0:07:16.960 --> 0:07:21.400 necessarily concerned about who the general manager is. You're just 0:07:21.440 --> 0:07:23.800 trying to get in lockstep with him to put the 0:07:23.840 --> 0:07:27.440 best pieces in place to make you a success, a successful, 0:07:27.480 --> 0:07:31.320 winning franchise. And you know that's the one unique quality 0:07:31.360 --> 0:07:34.600 of head coaches is we see how many hours these 0:07:34.600 --> 0:07:38.040 guys put in at this job. We see the difficulty 0:07:38.120 --> 0:07:41.640 of ultimately getting a head coaching job, how many times 0:07:41.640 --> 0:07:44.120 some of these guys move from place to place with 0:07:44.200 --> 0:07:47.320 a moment's notice. So if you have an opportunity to 0:07:47.400 --> 0:07:51.480 come and coach the Chicago Bears, you are gonna offer 0:07:51.600 --> 0:07:55.400 every of every bit of what you think you have 0:07:55.640 --> 0:07:58.160 what it takes to turn the Bears into that winning 0:07:58.160 --> 0:08:01.480 franchise that George and Kevin and Ryan all talk about. 0:08:01.560 --> 0:08:03.640 Taste like Miller Time, go to Miller Like dot com, 0:08:03.640 --> 0:08:07.080 slash Bears pod to find delivery options near you. Celebrate responsibly. 0:08:07.160 --> 0:08:10.240 Miller Brewing Company, Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Ninety six calories and three 0:08:10.240 --> 0:08:12.800 point two cards per twelve ounces. All right, let's listen 0:08:12.880 --> 0:08:15.040 in to a portion of what nearly was a forty 0:08:15.080 --> 0:08:17.960 minute Q and eight with General manager Ryan Poles. Will 0:08:17.960 --> 0:08:20.320 give you about fifteen minutes here of what he had 0:08:20.360 --> 0:08:23.880 to say, beginning with his opening statements about what this 0:08:23.960 --> 0:08:26.720 franchise is working with right now and where it's headed. 0:08:26.800 --> 0:08:29.360 First, I want to thank our players for their time 0:08:29.400 --> 0:08:32.480 and their energy this year. I want to thank our 0:08:32.559 --> 0:08:35.840 support staff and our coaches preparing our players weekend and 0:08:35.840 --> 0:08:39.400 week out. Want to take a moment to think Thomas 0:08:39.400 --> 0:08:43.600 Brown was put in a really tough situation. Was given 0:08:43.800 --> 0:08:47.120 a lot of responsibility as the season went along, and 0:08:47.360 --> 0:08:50.760 I thought he handled it with poise, with command. 0:08:51.559 --> 0:08:53.080 I thought he did a great job leading. 0:08:53.880 --> 0:08:57.360 Just watching him inside the team meeting room, seeing him 0:08:57.360 --> 0:09:01.000 address the team, they did a great job and accountability 0:09:01.200 --> 0:09:04.360 to the forefront, being a truth teller was really important 0:09:04.400 --> 0:09:06.840 at that time. I want to thank our fans for 0:09:06.920 --> 0:09:11.400 their support and their patients. I understand their frustrations just 0:09:11.520 --> 0:09:13.760 with where the team is right now, and they have 0:09:13.840 --> 0:09:16.719 my word. I'm doing everything I can and we are 0:09:16.800 --> 0:09:18.800 as an entire group to get this thing back on 0:09:18.920 --> 0:09:21.920 track and headed in the direction it needs to be 0:09:22.000 --> 0:09:23.839 and they can take pride in their team. I want 0:09:23.880 --> 0:09:25.880 to give a special shout out to Jalen Johnson for 0:09:25.920 --> 0:09:28.000 making Pro Bowl for the second year. 0:09:28.480 --> 0:09:31.080 That's no surprise from anyone in our building. 0:09:31.600 --> 0:09:36.600 His preparation, his detail, his process is always on point 0:09:36.600 --> 0:09:40.600 and that's allowed him to be successful and consistent in 0:09:40.679 --> 0:09:44.840 terms of injuries, some of the long term ones with surgery. 0:09:45.240 --> 0:09:47.920 Braxton just got out of surgery a couple of days 0:09:47.920 --> 0:09:52.960 ago with his ankle and he's healing up. Billings got 0:09:52.960 --> 0:09:55.880 his peck prepared. He is out of the sling already 0:09:55.920 --> 0:09:59.720 and getting stronger, which is no surprise. And Jalen Jones 0:09:59.800 --> 0:10:04.280 all so had a shoulder operation as well. In terms 0:10:04.280 --> 0:10:07.439 of the concussion guys, Brisker and Baits, they're filming back 0:10:07.480 --> 0:10:10.400 to themselves and I got faith and all those guys 0:10:10.400 --> 0:10:12.480 that they're going to be back ready to help us 0:10:12.720 --> 0:10:16.440 next year. I don't have a specific timetable in terms 0:10:16.480 --> 0:10:18.960 of their return, but they're heading in the right direction. 0:10:19.760 --> 0:10:23.320 In terms of UFAs, we have just a few of 0:10:23.360 --> 0:10:27.880 them in terms of our starters, and we have a 0:10:27.920 --> 0:10:32.320 couple guys that definitely will be up for some type 0:10:32.360 --> 0:10:35.679 of extension this offseason. But I think it's really important 0:10:36.760 --> 0:10:38.840 to wait for coaching staff to be in the building 0:10:39.320 --> 0:10:41.200 because we want to make sure we have that alignment 0:10:41.960 --> 0:10:43.240 with vision. 0:10:42.960 --> 0:10:44.760 Fit and roll as we move forward. 0:10:49.360 --> 0:10:54.559 Looking back at the season, not happy with the results 0:10:55.800 --> 0:10:59.440 it's been a long season where those Mondays have been really, 0:10:59.480 --> 0:11:03.760 really difficul cult because we continue to come up short, 0:11:05.240 --> 0:11:07.920 and I have to take responsibility as the leader of 0:11:07.920 --> 0:11:11.280 the football operation for that, and I also have to 0:11:11.280 --> 0:11:14.640 make sure that we find solutions to make sure that 0:11:14.840 --> 0:11:16.679 we don't make that mistake again. 0:11:16.440 --> 0:11:17.880 And we can continue to improve. 0:11:18.240 --> 0:11:21.560 I think anytime you have a struggle, but I also 0:11:21.600 --> 0:11:26.040 think when you have success, too, it's important to listen, reflect, learn, 0:11:27.000 --> 0:11:29.840 and adjust to make sure that you're putting yourself in 0:11:29.880 --> 0:11:32.079 a good position. I also think part of that is 0:11:32.120 --> 0:11:33.800 taking a look in the mirror to make sure that 0:11:34.800 --> 0:11:36.760 you know, just in terms of myself as a leader, 0:11:36.960 --> 0:11:39.920 I'm doing everything that I can to help our football team. 0:11:40.960 --> 0:11:44.559 After spending time going through the exit process with our 0:11:44.600 --> 0:11:49.720 players yesterday, reflecting and taking time to look back, one 0:11:49.720 --> 0:11:51.600 of the things that popped out I think it was 0:11:51.800 --> 0:11:54.679 a common theme is I think we have to change 0:11:54.920 --> 0:11:57.959 back to our process over outcome. I think this year, 0:11:58.000 --> 0:12:00.600 with the excitement of the season, it was very much 0:12:00.720 --> 0:12:06.360 outcome over process, winning expectations. All of those things which 0:12:06.400 --> 0:12:09.200 goals are fine, you never want to back down from that, 0:12:10.600 --> 0:12:17.760 but the detail, the accountability, the competitive poise, and critical situations. 0:12:17.880 --> 0:12:21.439 Finding edge to win games is something that we came 0:12:21.520 --> 0:12:24.040 up short with. I think as a front office, we 0:12:24.120 --> 0:12:27.840 got to continue to add talent to this roster. We 0:12:27.960 --> 0:12:30.880 have to make sure that the players we bring into 0:12:30.920 --> 0:12:33.720 this building also fit the culture that we want so 0:12:33.760 --> 0:12:37.199 we can continue to make strives forward. So I'm disappointed, 0:12:37.280 --> 0:12:40.720 just like our fans are, but I'm not discouraged. I 0:12:40.720 --> 0:12:43.160 believe we have a strong core of players that we're 0:12:43.160 --> 0:12:46.080 going to connect to the right staff as they come 0:12:46.080 --> 0:12:50.319 in to make the progress that's that's needed. I'm grateful 0:12:50.559 --> 0:12:53.040 for George and Kevin and they're trust in me to 0:12:53.280 --> 0:12:54.280 continue to get this. 0:12:54.240 --> 0:12:56.560 Thing back on track and get it corrected. 0:12:57.840 --> 0:13:00.319 I do want to address some of the things that 0:13:00.440 --> 0:13:03.280 I've heard about the relationship between Kevin and I that 0:13:03.440 --> 0:13:06.400 couldn't be further from the truth. We spend almost every 0:13:06.440 --> 0:13:10.160 single day together talking about solutions and direction of where 0:13:10.160 --> 0:13:11.640 we want to be and where we're going to go, 0:13:13.000 --> 0:13:15.400 and I mean, it is so far from the truth. 0:13:16.640 --> 0:13:19.120 It was a little disappointing to hear that, to be honest, 0:13:19.240 --> 0:13:20.800 But we do have the strong core that we're going 0:13:20.840 --> 0:13:24.000 to get with the right staff and make things happen. 0:13:24.080 --> 0:13:26.800 I was proud of the way some of our core 0:13:26.880 --> 0:13:32.040 veteran players played this year with dj Jalen Johnson, TJ. Edwards, 0:13:32.240 --> 0:13:36.440 Kevin Bayern, Cole Kmet, and I was very excited and 0:13:36.520 --> 0:13:39.959 happy with the development of guys like Dexter, Darnell Rome, 0:13:40.280 --> 0:13:40.840 and Caleb. 0:13:41.000 --> 0:13:42.199 Looking at Caleb, I thought he. 0:13:42.160 --> 0:13:44.520 Did some really good things, but I also know that 0:13:44.880 --> 0:13:48.040 there is so much more left than him and his 0:13:48.080 --> 0:13:49.160 game and his skill set. 0:13:49.760 --> 0:13:51.240 I love the flashes that he showed. 0:13:51.320 --> 0:13:54.880 I love the two minute drills and his ability to 0:13:54.880 --> 0:13:57.760 put the team in a position to win games multiple 0:13:57.760 --> 0:14:00.679 times this season. As the championship caliber trade, we watched that, 0:14:01.480 --> 0:14:04.360 especially this time of year. Moving forward, we watched that 0:14:04.920 --> 0:14:07.360 happen a lot, and we're going to continue to build 0:14:07.400 --> 0:14:11.559 off of that. We have cap space, we have draft capital, 0:14:12.080 --> 0:14:14.120 and like I said, we have continuity to continue to 0:14:14.200 --> 0:14:18.480 roll forward. In terms of our coach search, we've taken 0:14:19.720 --> 0:14:23.240 shoot the last month or so to prepare our process. 0:14:23.640 --> 0:14:27.440 We've taken time to look back at the past processes 0:14:27.440 --> 0:14:30.360 to make sure that we were making changes and adjusting 0:14:30.920 --> 0:14:34.080 so that this is an absolute success. We've been in 0:14:34.080 --> 0:14:39.440 information gathering mode, looking at data research, making countless calls 0:14:39.800 --> 0:14:41.480 to make sure that we have everything we need to 0:14:41.520 --> 0:14:42.480 make a sound decision. 0:14:42.800 --> 0:14:43.400 What we're looking for. 0:14:43.520 --> 0:14:47.000 We're looking for clear vision, a developmental mindset, really good 0:14:47.120 --> 0:14:50.920 game management, and obviously a plan to develop a quarterback 0:14:51.000 --> 0:14:52.640 is going to be a key part of that as well. 0:14:53.600 --> 0:14:55.800 We're going to cast a wide net. It's going to 0:14:55.800 --> 0:14:59.480 be a diverse group. There's will be different backgrounds from offense, defense, 0:14:59.520 --> 0:15:03.600 specialty teams, college pro. We are turning every stone to 0:15:03.600 --> 0:15:06.800 make sure that we're doing this the right way. We 0:15:06.840 --> 0:15:10.640 believe that's gonna be really, really important. There's gonna be 0:15:10.640 --> 0:15:13.320 some names that you don't expect that are gonna surprise 0:15:13.400 --> 0:15:16.160 you because we're digging deeper than we. 0:15:16.120 --> 0:15:16.920 Ever have before. 0:15:17.280 --> 0:15:20.040 In terms of timing, we're gonna move with urgency, but 0:15:20.080 --> 0:15:22.760 we are not going to rush the process again because 0:15:22.800 --> 0:15:25.120 we want it to be a sound process. In terms 0:15:25.160 --> 0:15:28.720 of the interview panel, it'll be George Kevin, Matt Feinstein 0:15:28.760 --> 0:15:31.720 who does ADMIN with me, football admin, Jeff King who's 0:15:31.720 --> 0:15:34.840 on my staff, Liz Guys who's in HR. 0:15:35.240 --> 0:15:37.880 And obviously missing Ian there. 0:15:38.920 --> 0:15:41.600 I think it's really important to allow Ian to go 0:15:41.720 --> 0:15:43.440 through his own interview process. 0:15:43.440 --> 0:15:45.840 If that pops up, if it doesn't. 0:15:45.880 --> 0:15:48.960 He will be in that group as well as we 0:15:49.000 --> 0:15:53.120 move forward, and then our senior leadership here with the 0:15:53.160 --> 0:15:56.040 Bears is also everyone's gone through the league training in 0:15:56.120 --> 0:16:00.440 terms of inclusivity and sound hiring practices that the league 0:16:00.440 --> 0:16:03.240 puts in place, and as we move forward in our process, 0:16:03.800 --> 0:16:06.480 they will have time to spend with our candidates, especially 0:16:06.480 --> 0:16:07.840 as we get down to the finalist group. 0:16:07.880 --> 0:16:08.880 I'll open up to questions. 0:16:08.960 --> 0:16:12.040 There seems to be a maybe an overriding or at 0:16:12.080 --> 0:16:14.080 least a theme in the locker room that the players 0:16:14.640 --> 0:16:17.120 need more discipline, need to be challenged more. 0:16:17.840 --> 0:16:18.440 Is that true? 0:16:18.600 --> 0:16:21.240 Is that the type of coach that this locker room 0:16:21.280 --> 0:16:24.280 needs based on you learning more about your players. 0:16:24.400 --> 0:16:27.840 Yeah, I think that's important for any locker room. I 0:16:27.880 --> 0:16:30.480 had made it coming a couple of weeks ago about 0:16:30.600 --> 0:16:33.640 training camp. I think one important thing is, you know, 0:16:33.680 --> 0:16:35.160 we look at the wins and losses, but you got 0:16:35.200 --> 0:16:37.800 to go to the root calls on how we got there. 0:16:38.520 --> 0:16:42.800 And I do think we need to challenge our guys more. 0:16:44.000 --> 0:16:44.680 And when we talk. 0:16:44.520 --> 0:16:48.360 About accountability, there's systems of accountability. It's how we're going 0:16:48.440 --> 0:16:51.440 to put tape up of this is not how we 0:16:51.480 --> 0:16:54.360 do it. And then with examples of this is how 0:16:54.400 --> 0:16:56.960 we do it, and sometimes that can be uncomfortable. I 0:16:57.040 --> 0:16:59.760 call it healthy friction, and I definitely think we need 0:16:59.800 --> 0:17:03.120 more of that and that would help result in closing 0:17:03.120 --> 0:17:05.480 that gap on some of these games that we came troup. 0:17:05.600 --> 0:17:06.679 What could the numbers get to. 0:17:08.240 --> 0:17:10.240 I haven't put a limit on it. I think the 0:17:11.240 --> 0:17:16.720 restriction at some point is how much time you have. 0:17:17.720 --> 0:17:19.880 There's a lot of rules that go along with kind 0:17:19.880 --> 0:17:22.479 of setting your calendar up, so we want to make 0:17:22.520 --> 0:17:24.720 sure that it fits that and it's not stressing us 0:17:24.720 --> 0:17:27.840 out to an extent where we're not doing quality work. 0:17:27.880 --> 0:17:29.680 It absolutely needs to be quality, but I haven't put 0:17:29.760 --> 0:17:30.479 a number on it. 0:17:30.680 --> 0:17:33.639 Rian, what assurances will you give candidates about the power 0:17:33.640 --> 0:17:36.920 structure inside alas all about who they work for? The 0:17:37.720 --> 0:17:39.560 clarity there there seems. 0:17:39.240 --> 0:17:41.880 To be some questions. Yeah. 0:17:42.040 --> 0:17:44.280 No, So I'll end up selecting the coach and I'm 0:17:44.320 --> 0:17:46.800 taking a lead on that and George and Kevin have 0:17:46.840 --> 0:17:49.240 put me in charge of that, and that'll be the 0:17:49.280 --> 0:17:50.600 relationship between the coach and I. 0:17:50.800 --> 0:17:53.000 You know that coaches are going to ask about your 0:17:53.040 --> 0:17:55.879 status and about being aligned with you. What will you 0:17:56.000 --> 0:17:57.280 tell them? 0:17:57.800 --> 0:18:02.000 Yeah, I'll have that conversation with them. 0:18:02.240 --> 0:18:04.920 When we talk about coaches having a wide enough pool 0:18:04.920 --> 0:18:07.720 where there might be some coaches that surprise you are 0:18:07.760 --> 0:18:09.840 all options on the table. Would you consider giving up 0:18:09.880 --> 0:18:12.200 draft capital to trade for a coach of be current 0:18:12.240 --> 0:18:13.720 it's currently employed by another team. 0:18:13.800 --> 0:18:16.840 Yeah, we'll look at it. All avenues to get the 0:18:16.880 --> 0:18:17.520 best coature. 0:18:17.720 --> 0:18:19.840 Right over the summer, you you guys talked about the 0:18:19.840 --> 0:18:23.040 culture here, the leadership here, a lot about what you had. 0:18:23.359 --> 0:18:26.320 How did it get from that to where we're talking 0:18:26.320 --> 0:18:28.320 about details and lack of accountability? 0:18:28.359 --> 0:18:28.679 What? 0:18:28.680 --> 0:18:30.679 What do you do you think kind of fractured that? 0:18:31.480 --> 0:18:33.159 Yeah, there's there's a couple of things there. 0:18:33.640 --> 0:18:35.560 When we talk about culture, and I've talked about this, 0:18:36.119 --> 0:18:39.919 I strongly believe cultures people, I completely I mean, you 0:18:39.960 --> 0:18:41.000 all spend time with them. 0:18:41.119 --> 0:18:42.920 Those are there's a really good locker room and they're 0:18:42.920 --> 0:18:43.800 with the really good guys. 0:18:44.680 --> 0:18:46.920 I think there's some foundational things that you have to 0:18:46.960 --> 0:18:49.200 address from the beginning to kind of hold the standard 0:18:49.200 --> 0:18:52.480 throughout the entire year. I believe when you go through struggle, 0:18:52.600 --> 0:18:56.840 some of those things get difficult. Right, guys are struggling 0:18:56.880 --> 0:19:01.160 with just being down and losing games, and I think. 0:19:01.440 --> 0:19:03.600 That's some of the things that we saw. 0:19:04.840 --> 0:19:08.720 Any team needs, like a certain standard and certain measurements 0:19:08.720 --> 0:19:11.680 of how we're gonna do things, because at some point 0:19:11.680 --> 0:19:14.160 in the season you're gonna have adversity in your house, 0:19:14.280 --> 0:19:17.040 is gonna be shaken and and your foundations tested. And 0:19:17.119 --> 0:19:19.480 at that point you got to go look at the 0:19:19.520 --> 0:19:21.200 reo cosse did we do everything we're supposed to in 0:19:21.320 --> 0:19:24.359 terms of detailing everything we needed to, because if you didn't, 0:19:24.400 --> 0:19:25.960 it's a little bit often. Like I said, I think 0:19:25.960 --> 0:19:28.520 we looked at the outcome and winning more than the 0:19:28.600 --> 0:19:31.480 process and doing those things, then those things show up 0:19:31.560 --> 0:19:35.359 and bubble up. Especially you know, we were put in 0:19:35.400 --> 0:19:38.040 a lot of situations where you know, we're a couple 0:19:38.040 --> 0:19:39.280 of yards away from a kickline. 0:19:39.600 --> 0:19:40.640 We were right there in a. 0:19:40.600 --> 0:19:43.280