By all accounts, Ryan Pace is a solid human being. People have described him as somebody that operates with class and humility. His goal never changes. To make the Chicago Bears a big success. This is not a bad thing. It is exactly what an organization wants from its GM. However, more character traits are needed than wanting to win in order to be successful at such an important job.
So what is it that Pace is lacking? Why hasn’t he been able to get this team over the hump? A fascinating glimpse inside the mind of the man came via a column by Dan Wiederer of the Chicago Tribune. He spoke with somebody who has ties to the Bears GM, knowing him personally. The person made it clear that Pace is a phenomenal scout with a great eye for talent. That isn’t his problem. Instead, the big issue stems from the man’s somewhat passive personality.
“Ryan has a chance to be a phenomenal director of pro personnel or director of college scouting,” the source said. “And I mean phenomenal. The guy gets the game on that level. And anyone that classifies him as overmatched or unqualified is badly mistaken. He has a lot of amazing qualities.”
In the same breath, however, that same source described Pace as overly coy and unwilling to rock the boat, perhaps conflict-averse to a fault.
“Conflict puts the fear of God in Ryan,” the source said. “And unfortunately when you’re running an organization in a league as competitive as this, that’s not an ideal quality. It slows your ability to find resolution to a wide array of issues, big and small.”
This explains so much.
Namely why the Bears have always seemed so slow in responding to a crisis off the field. Not to mention Pace’s general unwillingness to step in front of the cameras. Never was that clearer than during Thanksgiving week when the rumors came out that Matt Nagy would be fired after the game in Detroit. A GM with a more battler’s mentality would’ve moved fast to get ahead of that problem. Pace? He didn’t even send out a statement. He waited until George McCaskey himself had to meet with players to insist it wasn’t true.
Also don’t forget that this is the same guy that undercut his last head coach, John Fox, by drafting Mitch Trubisky in 2017 without telling him. A decision that instantly created a rift between the two that was never really repaired. It wasn’t that Pace hated Fox and actively wanted to make him look foolish. He just wanted to avoid any conflict. Maybe a different GM would’ve been willing to have that difficult conversation and the Bears could have avoided the disaster that followed.
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Ryan Pace should be grateful his owner is a lot like him
George McCaskey also is a solid person, a devoted family man, and comes across as somebody that doesn’t care for confrontations. It is why he keeps his nose out of the football business whenever possible. This goes a long way in explaining why the man has grown so fond of the GM over the past few years. It also adds credence to the growing rumor that the Bears may try to somehow retain him as Wiederer confirmed.
Multiple sources have relayed buzz that McCaskey’s fondness for Pace could keep him in the organization in some capacity.
Being an NFL general manager is hard. Not just because of how difficult evaluating talent is, but also because it requires a personality that isn’t afraid to have tough conversations. Somebody who can look another person in the eye and tell the truth, even if it may result in harsh words being exchanged. Ryan Pace is not that guy. Time has proven this true. One could argue it’s been true of every notable hire McCaskey has made since taking over.
He’s looking for people too much like himself. Not people who are right for the job.
Could that finally change next month? This is what Bears fans are waiting to find out. Many fear McCaskey will keep Pace in charge as GM, electing to only change the head coach. Despite clear indications that problems persist throughout the football operations.
