“It’s around the edges — which the edges are big — that we can make sure that we modernize the Chicago Bears in a manner to make sure it’s competitive not only from a football standpoint, but a business, stadium, brand and a global brand standpoint,” Warren said. “But it is very delicate, that process.”

Not holding back

When McCaskey considered the influence Warren has had on Halas Hall so far, he first identified Warren’s ability to build relationships.

It started with Warren interviewing more than 200 employees, and it continues into everyday interactions. McCaskey noted that Warren makes it a point at every quarterly staff meeting to recognize the achievements of those within the organization.

“Just watching his verbal and physical interactions with people, he brings people in — in conversation and physically,” McCaskey said. “He throws his arms around you, and you can see people responding to that.”

McCaskey believes Warren brings many of the traits of his predecessor, Phillips: integrity, humility, leadership, decision-making, the ability to have difficult conversations with people and still talk to them the next day.

But Warren has “a completely different style than Ted,” and McCaskey sees it as his responsibility to adjust to that energetic and passionate approach.

Murphy said Warren is “like a machine” in his ability to jet to different meetings and tasks but said he has struck a balance between connecting with people and pushing them.

“He doesn’t accept anything but the goal of winning Super Bowls, that we’re going to bring a new stadium to our fans,” Murphy said after her promotion last month. “And he does it in such a way that he energizes everyone.”

Externally, McCaskey pointed to Warren’s developing relationship with Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson as one reason the Bears have been able to pursue their lakefront stadium vision.

Internally, one of Warren’s most important relationships is with Poles.

Warren has raved about his connection with Poles from early in his tenure, saying he feels like it’s one of the few truly transparent relationships of his career.

He called Poles bright, conscientious, curious and attentive to detail, with a knowledge of what a winner should look like from his time with the Kansas City Chiefs. He complimented Poles’ professional handling of the Justin Fields trade, noting that he believed Poles kept Fields’ interests in mind when he sent the quarterback to the Pittsburgh Steelers for a conditional 2025 sixth-round pick last month.

And though Warren classifies both he and Poles as Type A personalities, he believes their dynamic works.

“I think one of the things that he was probably yearning for was a really good partner and a resource,” Warren said. “That was going to work side by side with him, that had resources and contacts, that was going to be 100 percent transparent with him. Who was going to be demanding but who was going to be candid, who was going to be nonjudgmental and who really cared about his well-being.

“And Ryan knows that he gets that in me. There’s nothing I hold back.”

As Poles prepares for a key NFL draft in which the Bears are likely to select quarterback Caleb Williams with the No. 1 pick and hope to take another difference-maker with the No. 9 pick, Warren said he tries to act as a sounding board.

At the end of their weekly meetings, Warren always asks Poles, “Do you have everything you need for us to be a champion?”

“And as long as he continues to say yes,” Warren said, “then we’re moving in the right direction.”

Culture check

When McCaskey considered the vibe around Halas Hall this offseason, he offered four words: “Excitement, buzz, positivity, anticipation.”

Offseasons are typically filled with positive emotions, but this one for the Bears feels different.

Along with the draft capital and a roster that’s rounding into better shape, they have new offensive coaches — including coordinator Shane Waldron — on whom to pin their player development hopes. They look forward to a Hall of Fame induction ceremony for three of their former stars; a preseason game in Canton, Ohio, two days before that ceremony; and a regular-season game in London. And they have a second set of grand stadium plans in the works.

It’s a striking contrast to the aura surrounding the Bears just six or seven months ago, when the team faced a host of issues on and off the field beyond their 0-4 and then 2-7 start. At the forefront was parting with two coaches midseason. Defensive coordinator Alan Williams resigned and running backs coach David Walker was fired, both for conduct-related reasons, according to Tribune sources.

After Walker’s dismissal, Poles and coach Matt Eberflus billed the change as upholding the organization’s standards.

“It’s an opportunity to reaffirm your values and make sure everybody understands (them),” McCaskey said last month of the upheaval. “It’s one thing to talk about it. But when you’re tested, you need to act on it. People want to know, is it just words? Or does it mean something?”

The problem is Poles and Eberflus hired all of the coaches in the first place. Warren believes lessons were learned — and applied — as the Bears went through another set of coaching searches this offseason. Across the organization, he has tried to stress patience in the hiring process.

“I don’t believe there was a culture problem,” Warren said. “I wasn’t here when we hired the first set of coaches, but I can tell you this (second hiring) process was really methodical. They were very detailed, even in the interview process, not only from a football knowledge standpoint but just spending time with each other. And they interviewed a lot of different candidates. That’s a scenario we did improve, and it paid dividends.”

The 7-10 Bears had many problems last season beyond questions about a culture issue. On the field, coordinator Luke Getsy, Fields and the rest of the offense didn’t reach the heights needed. The Bears moved on from Getsy and Fields but retained Eberflus.

Poles said in January it was his decision to keep Eberflus, but he did it with input from Warren and McCaskey.

As Warren’s plane landed in Orlando last month, he thought about the free-agent dealings and draft preparations of Poles and Eberflus in their third offseason together. It cemented in his mind that “continuity” between the two was the right way to go.

He called himself “impatiently patient” as he waits for the same turnaround on the field that he’s trying to implement off the field.

“Things that are valuable, they take time to build,” Warren said. “I’m not saying it’s a 10-year period, but I know it takes time. … I’ve been here 11 months now, and I’m all in. My hands are in the dirt every day. But even for me, I’m still getting situated in certain areas. And I just think when you start making changes when people have been on a job for 24 months, especially in an organization that needed transformation …

“I’m passionate about giving people some time — a little time. I know this year is a critical year because I feel like we have elements in place. We have some really good players. We have some really good coaches. We have the support of ownership, and we finished up the year strong. I know every year doesn’t carry over to the next. But I’m energized and excited about this year.”

The energy is not in question. The results it will produce, however, remain to be seen.

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