New Bears General Manager Ryan Pace says he has final say over all roster decisions in Chicago, and that he will ultimately decide who the next head coach is.
At his press conference today, Pace said he will collaborate with others in the building about hiring the team’s next head coach, but Pace said the decision is ultimately his. And Pace said everything to do with the player personnel is his decision as well.
“The 53-man roster, to answer your question, yes,” Pace said when asked if he has final say. “But my experience is in New Orleans, the relationship between the head coach and General Manager, that’s critical. So is the head coach and the quarterback. Those are the two most important relationships in the building.”
So as Pace addresses the quarterback position, will he go with Jay Cutler? On that question, Pace didn’t answer directly.
“The quarterback obviously is a critical, critical position,” he said. “But it’s not the only position. For us to have sustained success, all 53 guys have to be accounted for. . . . I want to get to know Jay, get to know him further, before I come to these conclusions.”
Pace is the NFL’s youngest General Manager, but he said his own experience is similar to the level of experience that John Schneider had when he became G.M. of the Seahawks.
“I’m 37, but I’ve seen a lot,” Pace said. “I don’t look at my age, I look at my experience in New Orleans.”
In New Orleans, Pace was with a team that had a good coach and a good quarterback in place. It remains to be seen whether Pace can replicate that in Chicago.
