I hope (and expect) Pace to be back for next season.
LINK to the entire article Can Mitch Trubisky Protect Ryan Pace? John Fox is all but gone in 2018. There’s just no way around it at this point. His pitiful 13-33 overall record (3-14 vs. NFC North) is inexcusable. Blame the injuries to the end of time, facts are facts. Fox promised a turnaround and a Super Bowl title. He’s delivered neither in three seasons. So it’s time to move on. The lingering question is whether GM Ryan Pace, the man who hired him, will survive to see another year. Feeling out of Halas Hall remain somewhat a mystery regarding the young executive. There’s no denying he’s had some success assembling an intriguing roster. Jordan Howard, Cody Whitehair, Leonard Floyd, Eddie Goldman, Adam Shaheen, Tarik Cohen and Eddie Jackson make up a fascinating core to work with moving forward. However, all of that pales in comparison to the status surrounding quarterback Mitch Trubisky. He is supposed to be the future around which the roster will be built. Pace is the man who drafted him with that in mind, but does that earn him the right to see it through?.
I look at that photo of Pace & Fox together at O'hare (above) and it reminds me of how hopeful I was when we fired Emery and Trestman. I honestly believed Pace and Fox could get it done here. I know some here did not like the Fox hire from the beginning. But I thought at the time that is was a good move. I thought Fox could turn things around here and maybe even get us a Super Bowl win eventually.
I do hope Ryan Pace gets another year or two to show he can do better with another coaching staff in place. Do you think there is ANY chance they would sweep Pace out the door with Fox? I don't. I just don't think that will happen.
Pace "hired" Focks at the behest of Ernie Accorsi, Ted Phillips and GMcC which means he gets credit or blame for it in name only. He's really no more than the fall guy in this deal.
If Pace is fired after three seasons too Phillips and GMcC double their embarrassment again. I don't see them doing that at all. In typical Bears fashion it would be more like for them to extend his deal to match that of any new HC he hires especially with this Halas Hall expansion about to take place. Besides, who would take the job to replace him. He was a default guy when they hired him. Others more qualified like Eric DaCosta wouldn't even accept an interview.