Nagy and Pace was a pairing that looked like it was going to live on for years. A GM and head coach pairing that was among the youngest in the NFL had just led a team to a 12-4 record and a division title in 2018. Matt Nagy was Coach of the Year. Ryan Pace was Executive of the Year. Everything was finally coming together.
It’s amazing to think how far away that seems now. The Bears are 13-14 since that fateful night at Soldier Field when Cody Parkey ruined the celebration with his Double Doink. As time has gone on, it seems like the strengths and philosophies of the two men have drifted further and further apart. Nagy doesn’t seem good for Pace and vice versa.
The coach can’t make the most of the offensive talent the GM has provided and at the same time is of no use in maximizing the defensive talent that GM continues to supply. Most seem to think that because of this, both men will be fired at the end of the season. Barring a late-season rally.
Yet there is a lingering scenario left to talk about. What if the Bears decide to split them up, keeping one and firing the other? If that is somehow the case, here are two names who might help Nagy or Pace get things back on track.
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Nagy and Pace may be better off apart than together
Better GM for Nagy?……….Will McClay
People will debate whether Nagy is a good offensive mind or not. Yet the reality is it’s difficult to know for sure because he’s handcuffed by two inescapable realities. The offensive line is bad and he doesn’t have a quarterback. When that’s the case, it is difficult to produce offense of any sort. Granted, Nagy hasn’t made things easier with his rigid scheme structure but regardless. If this is the case, he needs a GM who has shown an aptitude in both of those areas.
Dallas Cowboys VP of player personnel Will McClay fits the bill. He’s been a big part of their front office since 2009. During that span, he helped build an excellent offensive line that ended up featuring All-Pros Tyron Smith, Zack Martin, and Travis Frederick. Last but not least he helped the team scout and draft Dak Prescott in 2016. He’s since become a Pro Bowler as well. McClay has the blueprint on how to build offenses right. He could be exactly what Nagy needs.
Better head coach for Pace?…………Brandon Staley
Facts are facts. Pace has shown over the past six offseasons that he has a clear strength to his team-building style and that is on the defensive side. Akiem Hicks, Khalil Mack, Roquan Smith, Eddie Goldman, Eddie Jackson, and Jaylon Johnson were all acquired by him. So rather than work against that by seeking his “Sean Payton” of coaches, maybe it’s better if the team just leaned into what he did best by finding a defensive coach who could maximize this talent.
Brandon Staley makes a ton of sense. He’s a rising star out west with the Rams, coordinating the #2 defense in the league. The Bears know him well from his two years with the team in 2017 and 2018. He’s an understudy of Vic Fangio who made this current defense into a juggernaut two years ago. Staley is familiar with most of these players and would know how to get the most from them.
Nagy and Pace may respect each other. Yet time has proven that it doesn’t always lead to a cohesive relationship. A lesson the Bears are still trying to learn.