The Chicago Bears appear in a great position to make the playoffs for the second time in two years. At the very least, they should finish 8-8 for the second-straight season. This despite suffering through a taxing six-game losing streak the past couple of months. This roller coaster of a year has many confused about what fate has in store for head coach Matt Nagy and GM Ryan Pace.
Bears beat writers have hinted for the past week or so that if either of them is safe, it would probably be Nagy. His ability to rally the troops despite that losing streak and the fact he still has two years left on his contract are working in his favor. It appears the rest of the NFL envisions this being the case. ESPN insider Jeremy Fowler indicated as much, stating the absence of a losing record and his strong leadership skill should sustain the head coach for one more season.
As for Pace? His fate is far more uncertain.
Multiple people around NFL believe the Bears will retain Matt Nagy for 2021, as a win over Jacksonville would ensure three seasons of at least eight wins. Final two weeks must play out but Nagy’s team responded to midseason struggles and coach appears well-positioned.
— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) December 27, 2020
Source have informed SM for weeks that the GM is far hotter water than Nagy at this point. A lot of it stems from the Mitch Trubisky draft pick. Something made to look particularly awful as Patrick Mahomes and Deshaun Watson continue to excel. Yet it’s not just that. Pace is reportedly also drawing a lot of heat over the trade for Nick Foles and the massive contract given to veteran pass rusher Robert Quinn.
Subscribe to the BFR Youtube channel and ride shotgun with Dave and Ficky as they break down Bears football like nobody else.
Two decisions that have really cost the Bears. Quinn has just two sacks this season. Foles went 2-5 as the starter after replacing Trubisky despite costing a 4th round pick and $21 million in guaranteed money to acquire. Considering how big of a hit COVID-19 will have on the team’s finances? Those two misfires look even worse than normal.
Matt Nagy wouldn’t be the first coach to endure this
The Bears have replaced their GM while keeping the head coach multiple times. It first took place in 2001. Jerry Angelo was brought in that June as the new GM and gives the mandate of evaluating Dick Jauron during the season to see if he should remain head coach. The Bears went 13-3 and made the playoffs. As a result, Jauron stuck around two more years. Both of which were down seasons.
Then in 2012, Angelo was fired. His handpicked head coach Lovie Smith was retained with new GM Phil Emery taking over. As before he was to evaluate whether Smith could be part of the long-term plans or not. Despite going 10-6 that season, the Bears failed to make the playoffs. This convinced Emery to go in a different direction. That direction ended up being Marc Trestman.
Thus far the results of this approach aren’t ideal.
Still, it’s clear the McCaskey family likes Matt Nagy. He is a good leader and a great representative of the organization. He’s also shown signs of evolving with his decision to pass off play-calling to offensive coordinator Bill Lazor. The question becomes if Pace is indeed out, who will replace him? Do the Bears hire the best GM they can find or do they hire somebody with close ties to Nagy?
An interesting subplot to the upcoming offseason.
