This coming Sunday against the Green Bay Packers feels like that point of no return. Remember the windmill moment from Back To The Future III? Once you pass that, it’s the future or bust. That is what this game represents for this Chicago Bears team. They’re 5-5 with their season teetering on the brink. A loss would drop them below .500 not just in the NFC standings but also the division (1-2).

Considering the team started 5-1? That isn’t a good look for the guys calling the shots. Especially GM Ryan Pace. He’s already missed the playoffs in four of the five seasons he has run the team. This would be his fifth. A loss to the Packers doesn’t guarantee it, but almost anybody with common sense will know it’s over. The Bears just don’t have the offense to make a late run. Largely because Pace built it so poorly.

This is why many find it hard to see him returning in 2021. So that leaves the obvious question. If the Bears do move on, who should replace him? Here are the top five names they should be looking at.

Chicago Bears have several options to replace Ryan Pace

#1 – Marvin Allen (Assistant GM, Miami Dolphins)

• Age: 55
• Front office experience: 8 years
• Bears connections: None
• Notable mentors: Bill Parcells and Brett Veach

Allen was a running back in the NFL from 1988 to 1991. By 1993, he took an invitation from Bill Parcells to join the scouting department. That’s where it all began. From there he had a hand in helping them build four Super Bowl teams including three champions. Thomas Dimitroff eventually lured him to Atlanta in 2009 where he would continue stringing together strong work as a college scout.

Finally, in 2013, he became College Scouting Director in Kansas City. With his help, the Chiefs laid the foundation of their eventual Super Bowl championship team in 2019 with picks like Chris Jones, Tyreek Hill, Travis Kelce, and of course Patrick Mahomes. The Buffalo Bills made him a national scout in 2018, the same year they drafted Josh Allen and Tremaine Edmunds.

A year later he became assistant GM in Miami where he’s helped turn a 5-11 team into a 6-4 team in just two offseasons. He has a proven track record in multiple locations and mentors from both the coaching and scouting ranks. There isn’t much else to say. Allen is ready.

#2 – Rick Smith (Former GM, Houston Texans)

• Age: 50
• Front office experience: 17 years
• Bears connections: None
• Notable mentors: John Beake and Ted Sundquist

In terms of reputation, there are none better out there than Smith. He ably led the Texans front office for 13 years. During that time his team made the playoffs four times and only had a losing record four times. His ability to identify talent was beyond reproach. Among his best finds include Mario Williams, Duane Brown, J.J. Watt, Brandon Brooks, DeAndre Hopkins, and Deshaun Watson. In total, he drafted 14 eventual Pro Bowlers.

Sadly by the time he finally found his franchise quarterback, things turned against him. His wife came down with breast cancer and head coach Bill O’Brien made a power play to get him pushed out of the organization. Smith’s wife died two years later. After taking time to grieve, he’s ready to take on the next opportunity. His qualifications speak for themselves. He’s build offense. He’s built defense. Oh and he identified a franchise quarterback.

#3 – George Paton (Assistant GM, Minnesota Vikings)

• Age: 50
• Front office experience: 20 years
• Bears connections: Yes
• Notable mentors: Bill Tobin and Rick Spielman

Paton got his start in the NFL as a scout for the Chicago Bears in the 1990s. He rose to become their assistant director of pro personnel in 2000 before leaving town to join the Miami Dolphins. By 2007, he followed friend and mentor Rick Spielman to Minnesota in 2007 where they both rose up the ranks until they essentially became #2 and #1 in the organization by 2012.

Paton has played a central role in a constant stream of quality acquisitions during his time with the Vikings. Among the best include Harrison Smith, Xavier Rhodes, Anthony Barr, Danielle Hunter, Dalvin Cook, and Justin Jefferson. The man is among the most experienced front office executives out there who has never held the GM job though he’s been close a number of times. Coming home to Chicago might the perfect way to do it.

#4 – Will McClay (VP of Player Personnel, Dallas Cowboys)

• Age: 54
• Front office experience: 11 years
• Bears connections: None
• Notable mentors: Tom Coughlin and Bill Parcells

McClay actually had some front office experience before he arrived in the NFL, doing work in both the Arena League and the short-lived XFL. So he was prepared when the Dallas Cowboys came calling in 2009. By 2014, he was one of their key personnel directors. That promotion turned out to be a good decision by the organization. They’ve scored some really good players since he took that step up.

His highlights include Zack Martin, DeMarcus Lawrence, Ezekiel Elliott, Dak Prescott, Leighton Vander Esch, and CeeDee Lamb. It doesn’t hurt he’s had two Super Bowl-winning legends in Coughlin and Parcells to show him the way. McClay is more than ready for his opportunity. There isn’t much left for him to prove. If anything, people are anxious to see what he can do without the Jones family breathing down his neck.

#5 – Louis Riddick (Analyst, ESPN)

• Age: 51
• Front office experience: 8 years
• Bears connections: None
• Notable mentors: Andy Reid and Howie Roseman

Riddick is fast becoming a favorite in the Bears community. A big part of why this is? Probably stems from accessibility. Being a top analyst on ESPN and now a commentator on Monday Night Football allows people to get a sense of who the man is as a personality and a football mind. Riddick comes across as straightforward, charismatic, thoughtful, and firm in his beliefs. He just has the look and feel of a guy who could run an organization.

His background isn’t half bad either. He played in the NFL for six seasons and also overseas in Europe and even the first version of the XFL. He got his start as a pro scout in Washington and worked his way up from there. Eventually, he joined the Philadelphia Eagles in 2008 and was their director of pro personnel by 2010. Among the most notable acquisitions, he was tied to include London Fletcher, Jason Babin, Evan Mathis, and Santana Moss.

One reason for concern? His track record with quarterbacks isn’t great. His biggest move as an exec was for Vince Young in 2011. He’s also been huge supporters of both Mitch Trubisky and Nick Foles. So it’s fair to wonder if he can solve the age-old problem that has plagued this franchise.