The Chicago Bears have started their search for a new general manager and head coach following the firing of Ryan Pace and Matt Nagy. The McCaskey family, led by George McCaskey, will be responsible for making the hires but will be utilizing outside help, especially from Hall of Fame football executive Bill Polian. Although McCaskey is facing criticism for seeking external help to fill both vacancies, he deserves credit for admitting he is incapable of conducting the searches himself.

George McCaskey said the Bears' "search for a general manager and head coach begins today," and the new general manager will lead the football operations.

He will be joined by Ted Phillips, Bill Polian and several others in these searches, but ultimately will make the decision.

— Chris Emma (@CEmma670) January 10, 2022

McCaskey Has The Right People To Help Conduct The General Manager Search

In the previous two general manager searches, McCaskey has brought in former Super Bowl-winning executives to help lead the searches. At the end of the 2014 season, the Bears fired general manager Phil Emery and head coach Marc Trestman following an embarrassing 5-win season. McCaskey hired former Giants general manager Ernie Accorsi to conduct the general manager search and interviews. Accorsi’s final two candidates were Chris Ballard, the current general manager for Indianapolis Colts, and Ryan Pace, who Chicago eventually hired.

With the current general manager vacancy, McCaskey has put together a team led by Polian, who was the Colts general manager and team president from 1998 to 2011. The Colts during that time made the playoffs 11 times, along with two Super Bowl appearances, and won Super Bowl 41. Although the final choice to fill the general manager position will be made by McCaskey, Polian and the group of consultants will lead the interviews and make their recommendations.

Can we please put 1 thing to bed? Bill Polian is in the NFL Hall of Fame, a 6 time NFL Executive of the Year and Super Bowl champion who built multiple Super Bowl teams. Every team with a head coach opening would be best served to have him. The Bears have their 1st big win.

— Hub Arkush (@Hub_Arkush) January 10, 2022

This is the best decision McCaskey could have made because Bears’ ownership lacks vital knowledge relating to important high-level football decisions. The McCaskey family has never conducted a general manager search on their own. Since 2001, Chicago has had only three general managers, with each hire being conducted by someone else. Ownership utilized a search firm that led to the hiring of Jerry Angelo in 2001, Team President Ted Phillips hired Emery in 2012, and Accorsi was responsible for recommending Pace in 2015.

For Jerry Angelo, it was a search firm. For Ryan Pace, it was Ernie Accorsi as a highly paid consultant. This time, it’s Bill Polian. Everything else remains. This is not structural change. This is not how you evolve as an organization. This is hoping to get lucky with a GM & HC.

— M@ (@MattSpiegel670) January 10, 2022

Although many NFL analysts expect more from Bears’ ownership in needing to know more regarding football operations, it simply isn’t the case with the family. A prime example of the McCaskey family not knowing how to handle football operation decisions was the Dave McGinnis coaching hire debacle in 1999.

Following the firing of head coach Dave Wannstedt in 1998, The Bears nearly hired Cardinals’ defensive coordinator Dave McGinnis, who previously was a linebackers coach for Chicago from 1986 to 1995. Following an interview conducted by Mark Hatley, Then chairman Michael McCaskey called a press conference to announce McGinnis as Chicago’s new head coach. The issue was that the coordinator never accepted the head coaching position nor had discussed a contract. McGinnis withdrew his name as a candidate as the Bears organization was embarrassed nationally.

Delegating The Search Has Proven Successful Already For George McCaskey

Seeking outside help to assist with executive hires has proven successful for George McCaskey, given what took place with the general manager search in 2015. When the team fired Emery after 2014, they needed an extensive rebuild as they had a roster lacking defensive talent. The Bears’ choice for general manager came down to Ballard and Pace, both as general managers have led their teams to multiple playoff appearances. Chicago’s general manager that was hired in 2015 undertook the responsibility of conducting the rebuild and bringing respectability back to the Bears’ organization.

Although Pace only had only one winning season during his seven years with the Bears, he completed the task of rebuilding the roster. Following three losing seasons, the Bears defense in 2018 was the best in the NFL and has been one of the better defenses over the last four seasons. Pace also has built an offensive core that features quarterback Justin Fields, running back David Montgomery, wide receiver Darnell Mooney, and tight end Cole Kmet. The current Bears’ general manager opening will be a coveted position due to the young players already in place.

Bears GM Ryan Pace was named Sporting News NFL Executive of the Year, an honor voted on by his league peers.

— Chris Emma (@CEmma670) March 24, 2019

If Polian and the consultants can make the correct recommendation to McCaskey, the Bears will be in a good position to be successful once again. The former Colts’ executive knows how to identify coaching and player talent. Polian hired Tony Dungy and Jim Caldwell as head coaches for the Colts, both coaches led the Colts to Super Bowl appearances. The Bears have a really good chance of finding a better general manager for this opening than they did when Accorsi recommended Pace in 2015.

The Chicago Bears have requested permission to speak with Indianapolis Colts vice president of player personnel Ed Dodds and defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus for their GM and head coach openings, per source. Both crucial in Colts' development of strong roster and performance.

— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) January 11, 2022

Although it’s disappointing that McCaskey isn’t capable of conducting the general manager search on his own, despite being the chairman for the Bears since 2011, it is encouraging that he isn’t afraid to admit his shortcoming. Ownership has made the correct choice of delegating the search to a proven football executive in Polian to ensure the best possible hire at the general manager position. If this decision results in consecutive playoff appearances and a potential Super Bowl title, McCaskey deserves praise for being able to identify the correct people to help make the important football operation decisions.