The Chicago Bears have a knack for NOT doing two good things back-to-back, so I definitely had my doubts that this would happen after the firing of Head Coach Matt Nagy. But here we are. The Chicago Bears have reportedly fired General Manager Ryan Pace.
Bears fired Ryan Pace, per source.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) January 10, 2022
The #Bears also fired GM Ryan Pace, per sources.
Total overhaul in Chicago.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) January 10, 2022
It’s a double dip for the Bears, and thus, a full-blown reboot in Chicago is underway.
Ryan Pace has been the Bears’ general manager since 2015, taking over for Phil Emery after a two-year disaster that saw the franchise bottom out in spectacularly embarrassing fashion. Fitting enough, I suppose, that the Halas Hall house-cleaning and jettisoning of the GM and head coach today marks the first such motion to do so since Chicago cut ties with Emery and then-head coach Marc Trestman. For what it’s worth, Pace was able to clean up that mess and build a 12-4 division winner from its ashes. But one winning season in seven won’t cut it.
Pace’s Bears went 48-65 in seven seasons. They went winless in two playoff appearances. And the era was ultimately defined by the shortcomings of the coaches Pace hired, quarterbacks he hitched his wagon to in free agency, trades, and the draft, and the salary cap capital and draft picks that were whittled away over the last few seasons. And while there had been discussion that Pace could return, retain his position, get a promotion, or even stay on with a demotion, the final call is a clean slate across the board. After weeks twisting in the wind, this is where the fun begins.
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