NEWSLETTER
The Bears’ 5-1 start has breathed new life into a fan base starving to make the most out of a competitive window led by an elite defense.
But more than that, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler and Dan Graziano hear Chicago’s hot start could also turn out to be a job-saver for GM Ryan Pace and Head Coach Matt Nagy … and perhaps a whole lot more (emphasis mine):
“Most people with whom we’ve talked think the Nagy/Pace pairing gets another year at least, which means another shot to try to solve the quarterback situation there.”
Giving Pace and Nagy another spin at the wheel on the quarterback position (if they can parlay this 5-1 start into a playoff appearance) would be eye-opening. For starters, Pace has just one year remaining on his current deal; Nagy, two. Would the Bears organization allow Pace to pick a long-term quarterback option ahead of his lame-duck year? That would certainly be bold, but it would also be highly questionable. And what about Nagy? His steady hand has guided the Bears to a 25-13 record. But his offenses have been mostly unproductive.
In other words, things are going well now … but are we sure this pairing is the right one to unearth the long-term quarterback solution this franchise has desired since forever? I don’t know the answer, but believe it’s a fair question to ask.
Ultimately, the implication here is that the Nagy-Pace tag team would get a chance to see things through if it doesn’t fall apart. And I suppose that’s sensible. Nagy has been a stabilizing head coach, even if his play-calling decisions have been maddening. And while Pace’s misses at quarterback are duly noted, he’s landed some real keepers in the draft (Eddie Jackson, Cody Whitehair, Jaylon Johnson), free agency (Allen Robinson, Danny Trevathan), and via trade (Khalil Mack).
No matter how the Bears address the QB position (draft? trade? free agency) this offseason, they appear better positioned to do it now than before. Nagy, Bill Lazor, John DeFilippo, and Dave Ragone seem equipped to figure out what’s good at QB. At least, more than the John Fox, Dowell Loggains, and Ragone trio. But with GM/coach contract decisions looming on the horizon, this situation becomes all the more interesting. Stay tuned.
