Matt Nagy is likely coaching the last four games of his time with the Chicago Bears. Expectations are he will be removed from his position by next month. While people are asking about which direction the team goes in next at head coach, there is a complicating factor still in play. What is going to happen to Ryan Pace? He remains the GM and the undercurrent suggests his status isn’t nearly as clear cut as Nagy’s.
Until George McCaskey makes a decision on him, the speculation on possible head coaches is pointless. Rumors persist that ownership is doing research on possible GM candidates. This comes from former players like Lance Briggs and Olin Kreutz along with Dan Wiederer of the Chicago Tribune. The latter did a YouTube session with former Bears beat writer Rich Campbell to discuss the confusing situation. He reiterated nothing was set in stone with Pace, and a big reason for that is the GM’s ability to deliver a clear vision to ownership about where he can take the team.
Even if he’s never been able to do that publicly for the fans.
The complicating factor in this remains Pace’s reputation at Halas Hall. He is well-liked and respected by almost everybody inside that building. Most importantly the people at the top. There is a reason George McCaskey was willing to brave the media and fan backlash to keep him last January. He believes in what Pace is trying to do for the franchise. The results just haven’t been there.
One winning record in seven seasons. No playoff victories. Some ugly misfires in free agency and the draft. Picking the wrong quarterback in 2017 and hiring two head coaches that proved to be flops. Now he runs the second-oldest roster in the NFL. One riddled with depth issues and bloated contracts. There isn’t a lot there to reinforce the idea he deserves to keep his job.
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So how could Ryan Pace sell the McCaskeys on doing so?
It centers around the young pieces he’s managed to secure in the last few drafts. Roquan Smith and Jaylon Johnson look like studs on defense. The same goes for David Montgomery and Darnell Mooney on offense. Above all though is the presence of Justin Fields. Pace was the one that engineered the move to snag the Ohio State quarterback and it certainly sounds like the kid has a ton of fans inside the organization. Including the owners.
Doesn’t it make sense to give the GM an opportunity to build around the young quarterback since he’s the one who made the pick happen? A logical point. One that certainly worked out for other GMs like Tom Telesco in Los Angeles and Steve Keim in Arizona. Guys who were also on the hot seat at one point but got extended chances after finding talented young quarterbacks. Now both their teams are likely playoff-bound. Maybe Ryan Pace can do the same.
It would start with finding the right head coach though.
Something he hasn’t gotten right twice already. Would any of the top candidates in this cycle be willing to come in and work with him? It is a difficult question to answer. Especially if they feel he might be operating on the hot seat. This means McCaskey would likely have to give him a contract extension to assuage such fears. That makes the decision even more significant. An answer should be forthcoming in the next couple of weeks.
