GM Ryan Poles doesn't want Bears to repeat this trend after Cinderella season

The Chicago Bears became a Cinderella story of the 2025 NFL season as they came within a handful of plays of participating in the upcoming NFC Championship Game. 

Chicago's ability to come from behind with first-year head coach Ben Johnson and second-year quarterback Caleb Williams leading the charge made for multiple must-see moments. While speaking with reporters on Wednesday, Bears general manager Ryan Poles acknowledged that his team can't always rely on erasing deficits late in games. 

Bears were prepared for late-game moments

"I heard the whole 'Cardiac Bears' thing," Poles said about a nickname given to the team, per Gabby Hajduk of the Bears' website. "I'd rather not be the 'Cardiac Bears.' But if that's what that game needs, then that's what you need to do. But I do think you've got to win close games. When you get down to those two minutes, that's important. They repped that a lot, and the guys were prepared for it." 

In total, Williams recorded seven comeback wins after trailing in the fourth quarter of games from Week 1 through the wild-card round of the playoffs. Late in Chicago's divisional-round matchup versus the Los Angeles Rams, Williams produced a highlight-reel game-tying touchdown with under 30 seconds left in the fourth quarter. 

One can't help but wonder what would have been for the Bears had Williams not tossed a costly interception during the contest's extra period: