Bears Promote Jeff King to Assistant General Manager

King has spent over a decade climbing through the Bears’ personnel department, beginning his journey as a scouting intern in 2015. His promotion represents a remarkable ascent from entry-level position to one of the organization’s key leadership roles.

From NFL Tight End to Front Office Leader

Before transitioning to the front office, King played seven seasons in the NFL as a tight end. The Carolina Panthers selected him in the fifth round of the 2006 draft, and he went on to play 108 games with 84 starts for Carolina and Arizona through 2012. During his playing career, King caught 156 passes for 1,323 yards and 12 touchdowns.

King’s playing experience has informed his approach to personnel evaluation, giving him unique insights into what makes players successful at the professional level.

Steady Rise Through the Organization

King’s progression through the Bears’ front office demonstrates both patience and competence. After starting as an intern, he moved through several key positions:

• Scout (2016-2019)
• Assistant Director of Pro Scouting (2019-2021)
• Director of Pro Scouting (2021-2022)
• Co-Director of Player Personnel (2022-2024)
• Senior Director of Player Personnel (2024-2025)

Most recently, King served on the search committee that selected head coach Ben Johnson one year ago, highlighting his involvement in the organization’s most critical decisions.

A Key Lieutenant for Ryan Poles

General Manager Ryan Poles expressed confidence in King’s promotion, emphasizing his earned success within the organization.

“We congratulate Jeff on his elevation within our football operations department,” Poles said in a statement. “Jeff has earned this promotion through his commitment to our team and his excellence within our operation, as well as the positive impact that he has created throughout our organization. We look forward to Jeff’s continued leadership and contributions as we work toward building a sustained winner.”

King will now serve as Poles’ right-hand man, taking on the responsibilities previously held by Cunningham. The role places him at the center of major personnel decisions, from draft evaluations to free agency strategy.

King’s Perspective on the Opportunity

In his own statement, King expressed gratitude for the opportunity to continue growing with the Bears organization.

“I’m super lucky,” King said. “I’ve been here 12 years. That doesn’t happen. When I walked in here 12 years ago as an intern, I didn’t think it would go this far, but I’ve been very lucky and appreciative of this organization because it is special.”

King also acknowledged the trust placed in him by ownership and leadership: “I am honored to be able to continue representing the Chicago Bears organization, and I am thankful and appreciative to George H. McCaskey, the McCaskey family, Kevin Warren and Ryan Poles for their trust and belief in me.”

What This Means for the Bears

King’s promotion maintains continuity within the Bears’ front office at a critical time. With Johnson entering his first full offseason as head coach and the team looking to build on recent progress, having an experienced personnel executive in the assistant GM role provides stability.

King’s decade-plus with the organization means he understands the Bears’ philosophy and has been involved in building the current roster. His familiarity with both the team’s talent evaluation process and organizational culture positions him to hit the ground running in his expanded role.

The Bears face important decisions ahead, including navigating free agency and the 2026 NFL Draft. King will play a central role in those processes as Poles’ top deputy.