Plenty of Chicago Bears fans were not happy when the news dropped Ryan Pace was returning as GM. They couldn’t understand it. One winning record in six seasons. Multiple misfires at quarterback. How could George McCaskey convince himself another year would produce different results? The Bears chairman explains Pace’s depth of character, his commitment, and his growth into the role as primary explanations.
That wasn’t good enough for many. All they could see was the many mistakes Pace has made that led a once promising roster into its current predicament. One of advancing age, bloated contracts, and still no resolution at the most important position in the sport. It just doesn’t make sense. At least not to those on the outside.
To those around the league, the perception is a little different.
Jeff Hughes of Da Bears Blog has proven to have some interesting connections around the NFL in the past. One of them is a high-ranking executive he calls “REDACTED.” In the middle of an interesting interview, he was asked his opinion on the supposed lame duck status of Pace and head coach Matt Nagy. His answer was rather educational.
“First thing, and I have told you this previously, nobody I spoke with believed Ryan or Matt was getting fired. And if they were, both would have been hired again within 12 hours if they wanted. I would have pushed hard for us to bring Ryan in but he’d more than likely go back to Sean.”
Based on these comments, it’s pretty clear the wider NFL doesn’t view Pace with nearly the same scorn as fans do. He has the respect of several people. Enough to where he’d find work within hours of being let go. This goes a long way in explaining why McCaskey was reluctant to let the GM walk. He genuinely feels the man is good at his job and deserves more time to get this team over the hump.
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Ryan Pace, like it or not, has shown growth in recent years
Just look to the draft for evidence. Through his first three seasons on the job, his tenure was pockmarked with some pretty ugly whiffs with high selections. Of the eight picks he made in the first three rounds between 2015 and 2017, four of them failed to complete even one full season as a starter. Only two (Eddie Goldman and Cody Whitehair) made it to their second contracts.
Since then? It appears Pace has improved considerably at finding dependable talent. In the past three drafts, he’s selected six players in the first three rounds. Four of them (Roquan Smith, James Daniels, David Montgomery, and Jaylon Johns) look like long-term starters while another in Cole Kmet has a boatload of potential. Even Anthony Miller had his good moments despite being a disappointment.
This isn’t even counting his ongoing success in the later rounds.
Bilal Nichols and Darnell Mooney, both 5th round picks are looking like quality finds. Combine this with his ability to continually find solid bargains in free agency like Tashaun Gipson and Mario Edwards should serve as a reminder that his status in Chicago is hardly black and white. McCaskey believes in him and based on these comments he has valid reasons to. Ryan Pace isn’t perfect but he has admirers around the NFL. That means something.