This era of Chicago Bears football was ushered in by the failures of the previous one, and that one was helmed by general manager Ryan Pace.
Pace had superiors that he answered to, i.e., former president Ted Phillips, some of whom–owner George McCaskey–are still in place. Still, his name is synonymous with one of the more dysfunctional periods for the Bears in recent history.
Now, after four seasons with the Atlanta Falcons, Pace is moving on again.
Ex-Bears GM Ryan Pace Out After Falcons Hire Chicago’s AGM
Former Bears GM Ryans Poles on to Next Venture
“The Falcons and VP of football operations/player personnel Ryan Pace have parted ways, per sources,” NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reported on X on February 7. “Pace, the former Bears GM, was highly thought of in Atlanta. But he was brought in by close friend Terry Fontenot, who was fired last month, and will have options elsewhere.”
The news comes just days after the Falcons hired former Bears AGM Ian Cunningham as GM.
Pace, most recently the vice president of football operations and player personnel, was with the Bears from 2015 through 2021, and the Falcons since the start of the 2022 season.
“In an offseason when Matt Ryan has taken over the front office and General Manager Terry Fontenot was fired, Pace no longer has a place in the front office,” Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio wrote on February 7.
More than Cunningham being hired, Pace has close ties with Fontenot.
The two spent time together with the New Orleans Saints. Fontenot’s tenure overlapped with current Bears defensive coordinator Dennis Allen in New Orleans, too.
Ryan Pace Made an Impact
The Bears went 48-65 during Pace’s tenure, ranking 24th in the league. Those Bears were one of six teams (out of 31 qualifiers) to go winless in the postseason during that span. They were also one of eight teams with two or fewer playoff games.
And yet, Pace drafted two of the Bears’ highest-profile players.
Cornerback Jaylon Johnson and tight end Cole Kmet were both second-round picks in the 2020 NFL Draft by the Bears under Pace.
Both players have also become prime speculative cut/trade candidates heading into the 2026 offseason under current GM Ryan Poles. The Bears are 26-42 in the regular season and 1-1 in the postseason under Poles.
This past season was the Bears’ best since 2018 in the regular season and 2010 in the playoffs.
With more time, Poles’ tenure can become the benchmark by which modern Bears teams are compared. Until then, Pace’s groups, while not the standard, still hold a significant place in the franchise’s history.