The Chicago Bears have hired New Orleans Saints executive Ryan Pace as general manager to replace the fired Phil Emery, hoping he can rejuvenate a franchise that has missed the playoffs for the seventh time in eight years.
The announcement on Thursday comes on the heels of a miserable, 5-11 season. The Bears quickly fell out of contention in the NFC North, costing Emery and coach Marc Trestman their jobs.
Pace spent 14 seasons with the Saints and helped build a Super Bowl champion. He was New Orleans’ director of player personnel the past two years, helping manage their pro and college scouting operations. He also served as the team’s director of pro scouting from 2007 to 2012.
