Bears chairman George McCaskey is expected to address the firings at a press conference Monday afternoon.
Nagy and Pace were fired after yet another disappointing season ended with a loss to the Minnesota Vikings Sunday.
Bears fired Ryan Pace, per source.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) January 10, 2022
“We know how the season went this year. We know how it went toward the end of the year and of course today’s game,” Nagy said Sunday. “I’ve never been in this position and for me, I continue to just go about business like normal. I mean that. I have had conversations. Nothing has changed as I told you guys a few days ago. I know this, whatever is supposed to happen will happen.”
Things were looking good early on but the team blew an early lead. The Bears ended with a 6-11 record for the season.
The phones lines were hot on ESPN 1000’s Kap and J Hood Show Monday morning after the news broke.
“Yeah it’s the right choice,” said J Hood. “I think that sometimes there’s fatigue between coach and team. There’s been a lot of fatigue between Nagy and the fan base.”
Bears fans at the Palace Grill also digested the news.
“It’s like the same game plan no matter whose the coach, no matter who is in charge they just go back to the same routine,” said Bears fan Sam Roti. “They need to change their whole system.”
Now the Bears will be looking for a replacement that can help quarterback Justin Fields reach his full potential.
One of the names floating out there is former Bears QB and now Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh.
“The next coach, I’d love to see Jim Harbaugh,” Roti said. “Love to see him. He’s nuts but he reminds me of a Ditka. I think he’d be great for the team for the young players but they gotta let him control the team.”
Nagy was hired by Pace in 2018 after serving as an offensive coordinator with the Kansas City Chiefs.
The Bears would finish with a 12-4 record and an appearance in the playoffs in his first season as Nagy was named the AP NFL Coach of the Year.
But over the next three seasons, the Bears would only make the playoffs once and did not have a winning record.
Pace has been the Bears’ general manager for six seasons, two more than Nagy has been head coach. The Bears made the playoffs twice during his tenure.
Notable moves by Pace include moving up in the draft to select quarterback Mitch Trubisky and Justin Fields as well as trading for linebacker Khalil Mack.
Prior to joining the Bears, Pace had served as director of player personnel for the New Orleans Saints.
Copyright © 2022 WLS-TV. All Rights Reserved.