Ryan Pace has held his spot as Chicago Bears GM since 2015. Over that span, he’s done some good things. He cleaned up a fractured locker room, modernized the team facilities, and built one of the best defenses in the NFL. At the same time, his tenure hasn’t been perfect. He’s already burned through one head coach, has yet to field a top 15 offense, and is responsible for arguably the biggest QB misfire in franchise history. Which is saying something.
So one can understand why he’s a divisive figure among Bears media and fans. Here’s an interesting question though. Is his reputation any different on the business side of the NFL? Ben Standig of The Athletic conducted interviews with several player agents and discussed all sorts of topics. Included were there opinions on the various front offices around the league.
Suffice to say? Pace didn’t exactly come off looking so great. The agents were asked a series of questions. They were as follows.
- Which top front office men are the most trustworthy?
- Who is the smartest?
- Who is the toughest negotiator?
- Which of them is the best talent evaluator?
Pace did not receive a single mention in any of those categories. Not one. If that’s not a clear sign of how little agents respect him, nothing is.
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Ryan Pace is less than hated. He isn’t even acknowledged
There was one other category too. Which GM is the least trustworthy? One would think Pace would be all over that one right? Nope. He wasn’t spoken of in that as well. Basically, agents don’t like or dislike him. They don’t acknowledge his existence. In fact the only comment made in that article about the Bears was the questionable contract he gave to Jimmy Graham in free agency. That’s it.
For a guy who was Executive of the Year not too long ago, this is a sign of just how far his star has fallen. It is as if judgement was already passed on him. He is a waste of time and his presence in Chicago sees an inevitable end in the near future. So why bother even talking about it? Pretty harsh given all the work he’s put in.
Maybe their tunes will change if the Bears get back to the playoffs this year. Otherwise his legacy in Chicago will be remembered as most one of missed opportunities.
