The Chicago Bears’ 2021 season has come to a merciful end, but the drama is only just beginning.
The team is expected to make some big potential changes within the front office, most noticeably with Matt Nagy’s impending firing. But general manager Ryan Pace’s future is more uncertain, as some believe he’ll remain with the organization and others think he’s gone with Nagy.
If this is indeed the last we’ve seen of Nagy and possibly Pace, they certainly went out with a whimper as the Bears collapsed in the second half in a 31-17 loss to the Minnesota Vikings.
Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune shared a video of Nagy and Pace walking out of U.S. Bank Stadium together, perhaps for the final time. They were two of the final Bears staff members to exit the stadium.
Matt Nagy and Ryan Pace two of the final few #Bears staff members to leave US Bank Stadium. They walked out together. pic.twitter.com/mpznavsZaS
— Brad Biggs (@BradBiggs) January 9, 2022
Nagy is expected to be fired as soon as Monday morning, although it wouldn’t be a surprise if the Bears dragged things out until holding a press conference on Tuesday.
Pace’s fate is the more intriguing question at the moment, as there’s an argument to be made for both firing and keeping him. There’s been speculation that Pace could even be promoted to head of football operations while bringing in a new GM.
But considering how Chairman George McCaskey and President/CEO Ted Phillips preached the importance of collaboration, especially with Pace and Nagy, they’d have a hard time justifying firing Nagy and then keeping Pace, who’s only had one winning season in seven years.
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