On the heels of firing head coach John Fox this morning, the Bears have decided to extend general manager Ryan Pace through the 2021 campaign, team president and CEO Ted Phillips told reporters (Twitter link). 
Pace’s original deal was set to expire at the end of the 2019 campaign. With the two-year extension, Pace will likely be on the same contract length as the head coach he will bring in.
Pace joined the Bears in 2015 following a 14-year run with the Saints as a scout and director of player personnel. At 37 years old at the time of his hiring, the Texas native was the youngest general manager in the NFL.
Phillips commented on bring back Pace, saying, “He’s earned the opportunity to see his plan to fruition.”
Under Pace’s direction, the Bears traded up one spot in the 2016 NFL Draft to nab North Carolina product Mitch Trubisky. Before pulling the trigger on that deal, he made an interesting decision to sign Mike Glennon to a three-year $45 MM deal. Glennon started just four games in 2017 before he was replaced by the rookie.
During his press conference, Pace hinted that Trubisky would be involved in the head-coaching interview process. “That’s definitely something we’re going to look into,” he said. The Bears are expected to hire an offensive-minded coach but Pace says the team has not submitted any requests to interview current coaches.
how do you hire a coach who has 3 losing seasons, fire him and on the same day get an extension. welcome to your NFC version of the Browns
Pace didn’t hire fox
He did. But i always viewed it as more of a survival tactic. The Bears hired Ernie Acorsi to run the GM search that ended with Pace’s hiring. The Bears also asked Acorsi to put together a list of names for the vacant head coaching job. Pace’s bosses preferred Fox but deferred the decision to him. By hiring Fox, Pace essentially bought himself a couple extra years because Fox wasn’t entirely viewed as his choice.
As for the Browns comp. That’s nonsense. The Bears have issues with talent and ownership, sure. But there were really only two choices here- fire Pace or extend him. Realize that the job security of the next HC is tied to the GM. If the GM only has 2 years on his deal, then most top coaching candidates would’ve ruled out the Bears simply because they provided less job security moving forward.
He must have a very up close and personal relationship with the owner
Glennon must be one of the highest paid bench warmers in the league, and he was signed just before the current season! Keep up the good work Ryan!
Well chase daniels was signed on a big contract but only 3/21. Glennon should have gotten that
Taking Trubinsky should be scrutinized just as much
Exactly. There was no reason to trade up. He would have been there.
Strong disagree. Browns were looking to trade up.
Bears had tons of cap space last year. No free agent wanted to take their money. Alshon left for Philly. Bouye went to Jax. Gilmore went to NE. The list goes on …
There are any number of reasons why the Bears were spurned (better teams, better offers, etc) but the fact is that the Bears had to spend the money and there was no one the really wanted to take it from them.
As for trading up – There’s no question that the Browns wanted to trade up with SF, and there’s fewer questions that the Bears traded up because they believed the Browns were going to jump them in the draft.
Wow, the Bears would have had to settle on that lack-o-talent Watson who ended up with Houston too. Lucky us………..
Houston is an indoor team. Perfect landing spot for Watson. I doubt he would have had the same success on Chicago’s awful turf.
Isn’t Glennon’s contract only guaranteed through this season? If so, then there’s no issues going forward since he’ll have to take a pay cut to stay or he’s gone.
Pretty much, yes. It’ll take like $2mil to cut him this off-season. That’s insignificant in terms of dead money.
Can’t stand the Bears but this does make sense, any coach they hire will get 3-4 years and any coach worth anything wouldn’t sign on knowing the GM that hired him is only under contract for half that.
… exactly.
I get why people see it negatively on first glance – that the HC gets fired and the GM gets rewarded – but when you look past the headline, you quickly realize that this was done to give the next head coach more job security.
Seriously, who would want this headache of a job? Fox had success and a SB ring and he could do nothing but rearrange the deckchairs on this Titanic. Minnesota demonstrated how bad this composition of talent is. How much can be improved by the draft and how much has to be FA? And the depth…….If the FA’s stay away and the GM’s picks are mediocre at best, why risk your reputation as an HC? Do you think things will get better?
Fox also had Peyton freaking Manning.
Fox does not have a SB ring. He has 2 conference championship rings. Gary Kubiak was HC when Denver won.
I agree GM and coach should be on same schedule but in this case the GM Pace should have been fired with Fox he is terrible
How is he terrible? He didn’t get to hire his own coach. Almost every GM gets to do that. This ensures that whoever he hires has the same length of contract as he does. Clean break if it doesn’t work out. Makes the head coach position more appealing as well.
A list of possibilities for HC were given to him when they handed him the job. He made the choice even though it looks as if he was lead by the nose to make it. At least that is the story I know.
Jordan Howard, Cody Whitehair, Leonard Floyd, Tarik Cohen, Eddie Jackson, Adrian Amos and Trubisky through the draft, Akiem Hicks, Danny Trevathan through FA. I’ll admit he has missed on some FAs but I’d hardly call Pace terrible
What has Pace done to be terrible? The Glennon deal, while bad, is basically a one-year deal so they could cut him with minimal dead money going forward. Trading up one spot for Trubisky might also look questionable but we have no idea if another team was in talks with the 49ers to move up, plus Trubisky has looked promising and better than some probably expected (especially since he didn’t have any receivers). So one bad signing and one questionable at-the-time trade. That doesn’t warrant a firing. Plenty of other successful GMs make bad decisions.
What about drafting White? He has been broken time and time again. Worthless so far.
So it’s the GMs fault a guy gets hurt?
I would hardly say Pace is terrible, he’s done well through the draft, and although he has missed on some FAs, he also picked up Hicks and Trevathan.
I wonder if that fraud Accorsi recommended the extension. He’s the one who told gramma to hire this fool. He’s in over his head. He would fit perfectly in Cleveland.
I like this move, let him pick his own coach and be tied to him, Pace has been successful through the draft, has missed on some FAs, but I think that it’s definitely worth keeping him around
Where are the draft successes? White the WR from UWV who is always injured after one game? “Promising” layer Floyd who is injured. Truwhatski who looks “promising” and can’t get any points 3 times while starting a series in the Red Zone against Minnesota. And what about all those CB’s walking away! What is most important to draft at #8? WR? Pass rushing expert? CB’s? O-linemen?…..And who does he replace Fangio with if he walks because he does not get the HC job he feels he’s earned with the D?…..Can’t say “thank Gawd for Cleveland” much longer Ryan……..
Why would Pace be responsible for injuries? White and Floyd weren’t injury prone in college. Floyd is a really good player when he’s on the field. Trubisky played against a great defense with zero weapons. Jordan Howard had an awful game too but you left that out. How are you supposed to establish a passing game when the running game is non existent.
Great points but great running games are built from great OLines with depth and the Bears have not addressed it at all…. White has been nothing but hurt. I believe he has yet to make it through a game yet without a season ending injury. Why keep him? Floyd is very good but gets beat up throughout the year or so it seems. Do you really think Shaheen is the next Gronk? Or Tarik will be a running back when he grows up?……Can Truby take the beating that is coming during the Pace terror? Or will he end up like Archie Manning? He reminds me so much of being in the same position.
I agree that the o line is a problem that needs to be addressed but it seems like the running theme yet to year is injuries. They need a legit strength and conditioning coach to keep these guys on the field. Kyle long and josh sitton couldn’t stay on the field and the line is nothing without them. Shaheen has the talent and the speed, but he just seems like he’s an idiot after listening to him talk. Hopefully he invests in learning the playbook or he will be another wasted talent. I really like Cohen. He exploded onto the scene against the Falcons, and then it seemed like Loggains forgot how to use him the rest of the season. A decent offensive mind will figure out how to use him to open up the offense.