Bears Legend Mike Ditka Goes Off on GM Ryan Poles for Wasting $170 Million – “One of the Highest-Paid Defenses in the NFL, Yet All We Get Is an Unstable Unit”

Chicago, Illinois – December 10, 2025

The Chicago Bears are navigating one of the most turbulent stretches of their season as their defense continues to crumble under inconsistent play and a wave of injuries to key stars. But the real explosion came when Mike Ditka, the greatest icon in franchise history, unexpectedly went public with sharp criticism of GM Ryan Poles — accusing him of sinking $170 million into a defensive unit that “is nowhere near worthy of the Chicago name.”

Appearing on Chicago radio Friday morning, Ditka voiced what many fans had been thinking: the massive financial investment has not translated into results. The Bears have lost defensive cornerstone after cornerstone — pass rushers, linebackers, nearly the entire secondary — leaving the unit unable to function as intended. Missed assignments, lack of discipline and breakdowns in key moments have repeatedly flipped games into the hands of opponents.

Ditka, who defined Chicago’s identity through elite defense, didn’t hold back.

“Chicago used to live through its defense, and now it’s the defense dragging the team down,” Ditka said. “You can pour in $170 million, but if you lose the spirit and the identity, that number means nothing.”

The pressure shifted quickly to GM Ryan Poles, the architect behind the two-year defensive overhaul. With criticism rising and Chicago sliding in the NFC playoff race, Poles was forced to break his silence.

“When a legend speaks up, you have to be ready to face it,” Poles said. “It’s time for us to prove every decision matters — and from this moment on, there is no room for mistakes.”

Inside Halas Hall, the tone shifted immediately. Ditka’s comments weren’t just criticism — they were a warning shot aimed at the entire organization. A franchise once defined by the “Monsters of the Midway” now finds itself far removed from that identity.

With the playoffs approaching and Chicago standing at a critical crossroads, the message is clear: the Bears must show that $170 million wasn’t money thrown away. If they fail to respond, Ditka’s roar may not just be commentary — it may become the prophecy of a season on the brink of collapse unless Chicago changes course immediately.