'It's All About Winning Games:' Bears Introduce New GM Pace
By Chuck Sudo in News on Jan 9, 2015 10:05PM
New Chicago Bears general manager Ryan Pace struck all the right notes in his first news conference with local media and made it clear he has final say in all decisions regarding the team’s football operations. So those handful of reporters and meathead Bears fans who peed a little when Pace said he falls below Ted Phillips in the team hierarchy can breathe easier that Phillips, chairman George McCaskey or any third McCaskey/Halas cousin will not be interfering with Pace.
Pace also made it clear he understands the pressure cooker atmosphere he’s entering and promised his “clear vision and plan to build a championship team” for the NFL’s charter franchise begins with “finding the right head coach to lead us to championships.”
“I understand the importance of this decision,” Pace said, adding that he already began interviewing candidates an hour after he was hired Thursday when he led the interview of Arizona Cardinals defensive coordinator Todd Bowles for the still-vacant head coaching job.
Pace, who signed a five-year deal with the Bears, becomes the sixth general manager in team history and at 37 is the youngest GM in the NFL. He’s spent 14 years with the New Orleans Saints, the last two as director of player personnel, and emphasized the Bears need to build a consistent winner through the draft (something his predecessors Jerry Angelo and Phil Emery were unable to do) but will also spend his initial moments at Halas Hall "evaluating the roster and staff in this building." Pace declined to elaborate on the futures of specific players although he did say he would meet with quarterback Jay Cutler sometime during the offseason. Otherwise, Pace referred to his time in New Orleans and the working relationships he had with GM Mickey Loomis and coach Sean Payton, and said he hopes to develop a similar culture. He said he has no preferences for whether the new Bears head coach is offensive or defensive minded, only that “he is best for the job.”
“I understand the importance of this decision,” Pace said.
Pace stressed that he, not Phillips or the new coach, will have final say over the 53-man roster and said his draft philosophy is to select the best players available, rather than trade down to fill specific holes in the roster.
We are not just collecting athletes. We are acquiring football players that fit the Chicago Bears. There will be a major emphasis on character, toughness, instincts and intelligence. Guys, it's all about winning games and that's what I'm here to do. Every decision we make goes back to what's best for this organization. It's as simple as that.”