Chicago Bears new general manager Ryan Pace smiles as he speaks at a news conference in Lake Forest, Ill., Friday, Jan. 9, 2015.Nam Y. Huh/The Associated Press
New Chicago Bears general manager Ryan Pace says he's focused on hiring a coach and will wait before making decisions about anyone on the roster, specifically quarterback Jay Cutler.
Pace, who at 37 is currently the league's youngest GM, spent the past 14 years working for the New Orleans Saints. He has a five-year contract, and he faces a big task as he tries to rebuild a team with one playoff appearance in the past eight seasons.
The Bears went 5-11 and fired GM Phil Emery and coach Marc Trestman after one of the most disappointing years in recent memory.
They're turning to Pace, a defensive end at Eastern Illinois in the late 1990s who went on to help build a championship team with the Saints. He was also the interim GM during the "Bountygate" sanctions.
"I was in a good situation in New Orleans," he said Friday. "I worked with great people there in a good environment. I wasn't one of those guys looking to jump to the next job. This was a very thorough and calculated decision by me and my family. And that's because this is a historic franchise that desperately wants to win and they're willing to do whatever it takes for that to happen. And I want to be leading that charge."
He said his most immediate task is hiring a coach.
As for Cutler, who signed a seven-year, $126 million deal after the 2013 season, Pace is not ready to reach any conclusions. The contract makes him tough to trade. Cutting Cutler could be an option if the Bears decide not to keep him.
"I want to get to know Jay," he said. "I want to get to know him further before I come to these conclusions."
Pace beat out Kansas City Chiefs director of player personnel Chris Ballard, who spent 12 years in Chicago working under Emery and his predecessor Jerry Angelo, along with Tennessee Titans vice-president of player personnel Lake Dawson and Houston Texans director of pro personnel Brian Gaine.
Pace will report directly to team president Ted Phillips and will "lean heavily" on him along with chairman George McCaskey and consultant Ernie Accorsi in the coaching search. But he will have final say on that as well as the makeup of the roster.
"I want to win," he said. "The challenges, the first step, again is hiring the right head coach to help me lead that charge. And that's all I'm focused on right now. That's the most critical thing we can do right now. I think it helps me, again, to have a step-by-step plan in my head — a progressive plan — and right now, that's hiring a head coach, Step 1."
The Bears interviewed Seattle defensive co-ordinator Dan Quinn and Denver offensive co-ordinator Adam Gase before Pace was hired. They also interviewed Arizona defensive co-ordinator Todd Bowles on Thursday right after they hired their GM.
Pace, who was in on that session, indicated he won't hire a coach based on a certain scheme. He said more interviews have been lined up since he was hired, but would not reveal names.
He mentioned how the Saints' hiring of Sean Payton in 2006 sparked a jump from 3-13 in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina to the NFC South championship. Signing Drew Brees obviously helped, but the new coach was quickly able to get his players to buy in.
"Sean came from (Bill) Parcells, so discipline was important right off the bat," Pace said. "But Sean has a charisma, a confidence and an energy to him that's infectious. I think that's important, you know? When a head coach gets in front of the room, think about it, he's selling his plan to the players. And there needs to be buy-in. Sean Payton has that, and we'll be looking for some of those qualities."
He mentioned re-establishing the Bears' identity as a team that relies on the run and tough defence, areas they veered from under Trestman.