Ryan

Pace

Pace served as the Bears’ general manager for seven seasons. Unfortunately, the most notable decision of his tenure was trading up for Mitchell Trubisky in a draft class that included Patrick Mahomes and DeShaun Watson. Pace also chose Matt Nagy as his head coach, which ultimately did not turn out well. Prior to his time in Chicago, Pace was a general manager candidate for multiple teams. Still just 45 years old, it’s possible Pace gets a second chance down the line, particularly if his final major decision with the Bears--the selection of Justin Fields--ends up being viewed favorably in retrospect.

Nagy’s final season in Chicago was agonizing for all involved. The team waited until season’s end to part ways with Nagy, 43, only to maintain a Bears tradition of not firing a head coach during the season -- a tradition Bears faithful surely cared about. The writing was on the wall as early as October as the Bears struggled to put points on the board and Nagy’s play calling became erratic, bordering on unexplainable. His months-long commitment to Andy Dalton as the team’s starting QB -- even after Justin Fields fell to Chicago in the 2021 draft -- was baffling. When Fields finally got the starting job, Nagy refused to use the supremely talented athlete’s running ability, treating him as a pure pocket passer with predictable results. Fields, trapped in Nagy’s backward offense, had one of the worst games in recent NFL history in Week 3 against Cleveland, completing six of 20 passes for 68 yards and taking nine sacks. Nagy’s final two years as Chicago’s head coach were quite the departure from his superb first year at the helm, when the Bears went 12-4 and made their first postseason appearance in eight years. He seemed like a fresh face who had finally brought the franchise kicking and screaming into the 21st century. The luster quickly wore off; the Bears are once again a laughing stock. The team will start anew without Nagy and general manager Ryan Pace, who also got the axe on bloody Monday. Hopefully the team’s next head coach better understands how to utilize Fields as a passer and a runner.

So ends a seven-year run of mostly lows. Chicago did make two playoff appearances under Pace, including a 12-4 showing in 2018, but the team was 48-65 under his watch. Several of Pace’s most important decisions turned into disasters, including the hiring of Matt Nagy, who was also fired on Monday. Pace’s defining gaffe, of course, was his selection of Mitchell Trubisky over Patrick Mahomes. On the positive side, Pace did leave the organization with Justin Fields, who showed improvement down the stretch in 2021. Now it will be up to a new front office and coaching staff to get the most out of the young quarterback.

The Bears were certainly doing their homework on Wentz and likely were on the phone with Eagles GM Howie Roseman, but things never fully escalated. Breer reports the Colts were the only team actually in the mix for Wentz, who was traded for a 2021 third-round pick and a 2022 second-round pick that could turn into a first-rounder if Wentz plays more than 75% of the Colts’ snaps next season. Chicago still has a major hole to fill at quarterback, and GM Ryan Pace doesn’t have the luxury of waiting to find his guy next offseason. Expect the Bears to turn to the Marcus Mariota, Cam Newton, and Teddy Bridgewater tier of quarterbacks over the next month.

Both will be returning without extensions. Pace is lame duck status with a deal that runs through 2021, while Nagy is signed through 2022 after agreeing to a five-year deal in 2018. McCaskey singled out quarterback play as an area the team “needs better production from to be successful.” Chicago backing into the playoffs bought the Bears’ current power structure another year to turn things around. Pace and Nagy will be on the spot again in 2021.

The report was seconded by NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo and further confirms ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler’s report from December, but the team hasn’t made a public announcement. The Bears need to make some type of change because the current formula with Pace, Nagy, and Mitchell Trubisky maxes out as an early playoff loss team. It looks like Trubisky will be the one to take the blame for the Bears’ wobbly 2020 season. Expect a formal announcement from the organization soon now that rumors are flying.

“We don’t know what the hell they were doing,” said one NFL executive whose team is routinely in the postseason. “It’s all anyone is talking about. It’s really bad between Pace and Fox. ... From the first pick on, we can’t figure out what they were doing. Go back and look at how many small-school kids they took. People around the league are shocked. It’s really bad between Pace and Fox.” La Canfora suggests the Bears are already eyeballing coaching candidates for the future, namely Northwestern’s Pat Fitzgerald. The in-fighting in Chicago could conceivably lead to Trubisky seeing the field long before he’s ready.

That is convenient. ESPN’s Jeff Dickerson reports the Bears “are known to like” Stanford DL Solomon Thomas, LSU S Jamal Adams, and Ohio State CB Marshon Lattimore, so those might the three names Pace referenced. Chicago’s defensive front is in good shape, but they do need help in the secondary.

The Bears are one of three teams in the top five -- the 49ers and Titans round out the list -- interested in trading back. With the Jaguars at No. 4 rumored to be in the quarterback market, the Bears are in a good spot if the Browns want to jump back up for UNC QB Mitchell Trubisky. If the Bears stand pat, they are reportedly interested in Stanford DL Solomon Thomas, LSU S Jamal Adams, and Ohio State CB Marshon Lattimore.

ESPN Bears reporter Jeff Dickerson mentioned Matt Forte and Alshon Jeffery as players GM Ryan Pace should explore trading next after shipping DE Jared Allen to Carolina on Monday. There’s little chance the Bears trade Jeffery; at least, we don’t think Pace is that stupid. Jeffery is making near-minimum, and even though he’s scheduled to be a free agent next spring, he’s an ideal candidate for the franchise tag if there’s no extension. Forte makes more sense. He’ll be 30 in December, is in the final year of his contract, and would make for a prime sell-high candidate. Martellus Bennett could also generate some interest.