Ryan Pace wasn’t out of work for long. The former general manager of the Bears has been hired by the Falcons under the title of senior personnel executive, per NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero (Twitter link). 
At 37, Pace was the youngest GM in the NFL when he was hired in 2015, taking over for Phil Emery. His first major move was hiring John Fox as the team’s new head coach, beginning a three-year stretch that saw the team finish in the basement of the NFC North each campaign and produced the second-lowest winning percentage (.292) in franchise history. Fox was fired, but Pace received a two-year extension.
The 2018 season was a different story, as new HC Matt Nagy led the team to a 12-4 record and a division title, helped in large part by 2017 draftee quarterback Mitch Trubisky and offseason trade acquisition Khalil Mack. Pace was named Executive of the Year as a result of the team’s success. Things started to go south from that point on, though, as another playoff appearance in 2020 couldn’t outweigh Trubisky’s shortcomings. Speculation steadily increased that he and Nagy were on the hot seat heading into 2021.
As deep into this past season as November, it was believed that Pace’s job in Chicago could be safe. However, Pace was indeed fired, along with Nagy, after the regular season ended with the team going 6-11, albeit with promise in the form of rookie QB Justin Fields. The pair have been supplanted by highly-regarded replacements in GM Ryan Poles and HC Matt Eberflus.
By joining the Falcons, Pace will reunite with GM Terry Fontenot. The two worked together in New Orleans, the only franchise either had worked for prior to their respective GM hires. That familiarity will help them re-shape a roster facing numerous cap troubles and, sometime as early as this offseason, the need for a new QB. Pace could play a significant role in helping Atlanta get back in contention in what could be a wide-open NFC South.
I’d saying goodbye to all future 1st round picks if I was a Falcons fan. Bad idea.
Yes, but the Falcons will get a slightly better than average punter and a practice squad offensive lineman for all of those 1st round picks.
Be more worried that you will see Trubisky taking over QB in the near future.
common Falcons L
As hard as it is to remember but Pace was considered a rising star in the upper management ranks before leaving the Saints for the Bears. Clearly he shouldn’t have complete control again anytime soon but he absolutely is a good hire for the Falcons as while he bombed finding offensive talent he excelled at finding defensive talent which the Falcons desperately need. I have no dog in this as a Vikings fan but seeing the negativity about this hiring moved me to comment.
Montgomery, Mooney, and Kahil Herbert beg to differ. He’s not the best at picking in the 1st round but he’s hit on some late round picks
3 guys in 7 years? that’s your argument? With only one of them really being a great player? Meanwhile my Vikings in that same time drafted Cook, JJ, and Diggs all of which are light-years ahead of the 3 guys Pace drafted and the Vikings GM was still fired. My point is that’s just how inept and below average Pace was at drafting offense (or Nagy was at developing but that’s still on Pace).
Good luck Falcons. You’ll need it!!!
Game recognizes game… they deserve each other.
Wow the train has pulled into Atlanta. Wrecked of course and no clue where it is going.
I believe he was in a bit over his head in Chicago, but he was extremely well thought of in New Orleans.
I think he’s eaten some humble pie, and should be an asset to the Falcons moving forward. Good move by the Falcons despite what some ill-informed fans think.
Btw, I’m a 49ers fan, so no bias here whatsoever. Just calling a good move when I see one, and this was a clever pickup for a team that’s going to desperately need all the help and bright minds it can get..
Learning from our mistakes is how we build character. Pace is still young enough to use the Chicago experience to better himself. Expectations are low in Atlanta so Pace could perform better in an environment with less pressure on him.
Then Pace must be a genius because his whole time here was one big mistake after another.
As richardc stated, Pace was clearly over his head but can claim inexperience as an excuse. To me Gettleman was an even worse GM because he was experienced and still managed to sink the Giants.