One thing has consistently stood out through this ongoing process regarding the future of Chicago Bears GM Ryan Pace. Despite the obvious rumors that the team may have no choice but to fire him next month, a persistent nugget keeps coming up from multiple sources. That being the McCaskey family really likes him. He’s endeared himself to the organization thanks to his vision, his sense of leadership, and his approach.
Letting him go would be difficult for them considering all the work he put in trying to make this team a success. So it would be logical for team chairman George McCaskey to think about this question. Is there any way for me to keep him without enduring a complete meltdown from the fanbase? A way both sides can get what they want?
A fellow hometown team might provide that answer.
Back in 2009, John Paxson was GM of the Chicago Bulls. Like Pace, he was under a lot of scrutiny. Despite acquiring some intriguing talent since 2003 when he got the job, he’d failed to produce a consistent winner. People wanted him out. This put team owner Jerry Reinsdorf in a dilemma since he had no desire to remove Paxson who he liked and trusted. He came up with a crafty solution.
Reinsdorf promoted him to vice president of basketball operations and slid Gar Forman into the GM spot. This allowed the team to retain Paxson in a primary role but handed over a lot of the personnel decision-making to a new face. It wasn’t perfect but it prevented fans from rioting.
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McCaskey could copy this blueprint.
Chicago Bears have a position they could open up for Pace
Don’t forget Pace isn’t the only one under fire. Team president Ted Phillips is getting arguably as much or even more heat. He’s been with the team longer at 21 years and has five playoff appearances to show for it. Fans are tired of seeing a glorified accountant holding the top front office job in this organization. They need an actual football guy in charge.
So here’s a theory. What if Phillips were to retire and the McCaskey just so happen to slide Pace into that spot? Remember that ESPN host David Kaplan said on his radio program that he’s hearing whispers the 63-year old Phillips could opt to step down after this season. That would conveniently open up the job. Rather than go hunting for a replacement, ownership could slide somebody they know and like into it with Pace.
It’s not as crazy as it sounds.
The man has already demonstrated a clear understand of business with the Halas Hall renovations and his management of the salary cap. He received a degree in marketing at Eastern Illinois. So he has the business aptitude to go along with his obvious experience on the football side. It would give fans what they want by putting a “football guy” in the presidential role while also vacating the GM position.
The Chicago Bears could then find somebody to fill it who would handle primary personnel decisions. From the McCaskey perspective? Everybody wins. Obviously, they would hope to do a lot better than the Bulls ended up doing with Forman who became widely hated both in and outside the organization. It is an idea this team may consider given the persistent buzz that ownership is reluctant to let Pace go.
