NEWSLETTER
The Chicago Bears’ win against the Green Bay Packers meant different things to different people. For the Bears, it obviously clinched their first 10+ win season since 2012, as well as the team’s first division title and postseason berth since 2010. As for Bears fans, taking down the Packers was an emotional spirit-lifter that relieved the weight of a down-trodden fan base that had grown accustomed to watching Aaron Rodgers work his victorious late-game magic all too many times.
But more than that, the win put a gold star on General Manager Ryan Pace’s rebuild in Chicago. And if you tack on the news of five Pro Bowlers (and seven alternates) representing the Bears, there’s no denying Pace is the midst of his best week ever.
To be sure, the players deserve all the credit in the world for getting 10 wins, an NFC North crown, and all the other accolades they’ve so far received. But Pace definitely deserves some dedicated love for putting it all together. Because let’s be real with each other, it wasn’t always smooth sailing. In April 2018, Pace ranked dead last in NFL GM rankings. And even after a productive offseason, Pace still was viewed as among the league’s lowest-ranking front office executives. However, I think that narrative is changing quickly.
Remember: Pace is the guy who drafted Pro Bowlers Eddie Jackson and Tarik Cohen, signed Akiem Hicks as a free agent, and traded for Khalil Mack. He also drafted Pro Bowl alternates Leonard Floyd, Cody Whitehair, and Mitch Trubisky, while also signing fellow alternates Trey Burton and Danny Trevathan. Not only is that a whole heck-of-a-lot of talent acquisition, it opens a window to how the Bears went from a top-10 picking team to a 10-win team in 2018. And to tie it all together, each of the players listed above were acquired within the last three seasons! Woot!
A keen eye would point out there are two notable players absent from the list above – Pro Bowl cornerback Kyle Fuller and alternate offensive lineman Charles Leno Jr. Both players were drafted by Phil Emery before he was jettisoned after the 2014 season. And while Pace is (rightly) hounded for mishandling the kicking situation upon his arrival and not keeping Robbie Gould in house, it’s only fair to credit him for retaining other key players from the past regime.
That means it’s time to tip your cap to Pace for bringing back Fuller in a move that drew rave reviews NFL insiders, coaches, and executives, and offer applause for signing Leno to an extension that didn’t break the bank from a salary cap perspective. Indeed, Pace’s fingerprints are all over these NFC North Championship Bears, many of whom are under contract for the foreseeable future. It’s a stark contrast compared to what Pace was working with when he arrived.
Back in 2015, Pace was taking over an organization that was in disarray after firing its GM and head coach after just two seasons, had an expensive and aging roster, and the light at the end of the tunnel didn’t even represent so much as a flicker. I imagine it was like taking on one of those group projects in school where you had little to work with and no direction. And much like those daunting school projects, Pace took the long road toward getting a passing grade. And for his next test, he’ll need to keep this thing moving in the right direction.
