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Column: Buzz around the NFL is Chicago Bears GM Ryan Pace will stay — possibly with a promotion — while coach Matt Nagy will be fired

cigaretteman

HR King
May 29, 2001
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It would appear at this point the great Chicago Bears collaboration has its limits.

The Bears pinned their faith in the power structure at Halas Hall over the last four years and the idea they’ve been on the right track all along on some form of the word “collaboration.” As Year 4 of the Matt Nagy era comes to an end Sunday against the Minnesota Vikings at US Bank Stadium, one of the main collaborators may well survive.

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That is the undercurrent of discussion among folks around the league with speculation general manager Ryan Pace will remain employed. There is no doubt from anyone Nagy will be fired — perhaps as soon as Sunday evening — but league sources have said for some time word is Pace will find a way to make it to an eighth season with the organization, and that buzz has only amplified the last two weeks.

Nothing is certain until Chairman George McCaskey, who has not spoken publicly since last January, outlines his vision for the franchise. Until McCaskey sits down for a Zoom call, which also will put him in position to discuss the team’s purchase of land in Arlington Heights and a new stadium plan, anything is possible. And there are others around the league convinced Pace and Nagy will be fired.

Major changes seem imminent at Halas Hall. But what exactly will the Bears do with Matt Nagy, Ryan Pace, Ted Phillips and others? »

The Bears are 48-66 including the postseason under Pace with one winning season, two playoff appearances, no playoff victories and one executive of the year award. His resume is such that McCaskey would have an easier time announcing a firing than a decision to retain Pace, who was hired in 2015.

But if you believe half of what you hear, there’s a growing chance Pace remains and is even promoted to a president role overseeing football operations.

 
Both Nagy and Pace need to be fired. Pace has been
a poor evaluator of talent and wasted draft choices
for QB Trubisky. Nagy has no clue how to coach an
NFL team to a winning record.
 
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Reactions: lucas80
Nothing could be dumber than to keep Pace in any capacity. As I have said before there is a case to be made for keeping Ted Phillips and making him VP of Moving to Arlington Heights, but everyone associated with putting a product on the field needs to go.
 
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