GM Hopeful Reportedly Pushing For Chicago Bears Job
Over the past 24 hours, some major smoke has begun building up around the Chicago Bears GM position. For weeks people have wondered what the status is of Ryan Pace. It is obvious head coach Matt Nagy is gone after this season but nobody is certain about the man who hired him. Then former players Lance Briggs and Olin Kreutz hinted strongly within hours of each other that the organization is quietly searching for possible replacements.
In lew of this, Bill Zimmerman of Windy City Gridiron decided to put up a poll asking Bears fans who they’d like to see replace Pace. Here is where it got interesting. Jeff Hughes of Da Bears Blog, long known for having credible sources, chimed in with a name that wasn’t listed. New Orleans Saints assistant GM Jeff Ireland. When Zimmerman replied he only wanted one “second lap” GM on the list, Hughes dropped a considerable nugget.
Jeff Ireland. https://t.co/d7c8hqfuO7
— DaBearsBlog (@dabearsblog) December 11, 2021
I just put Ireland in because that boy is circling the gig.
— DaBearsBlog (@dabearsblog) December 11, 2021
This offers a clear indication that Ireland isn’t just another candidate.
He wants the job and is actively working behind the scenes to get an opportunity for it. Hughes already said a couple of days ago that the vultures are eyeing the Bears’ top two jobs. Much of this is thanks to the presence of talented rookie quarterback Justin Fields.
One thing that is very apparent over the last few days: the vultures are circling the Bears HC and GM gigs.
— DaBearsBlog (@dabearsblog) December 9, 2021
However, from the way he talks it sounds like Ireland is pushing harder than most. Why? The simplest reasoning is he views it as his dream position. Most don’t know but back in the 1980s, he lived in Chicago and was a ballboy for the team. He got into scouting by way of his grandfather, former Bears scout Jim Parmer.
One can safely guess he never lost his love for the organization even as he went off to college and began his NFL journey as a scout in Kansas City.
Should the Chicago Bears give Ireland a serious look?
The short answer is yes. This man has built a reputation over the past two decades as one of the better talent evaluators in the entire business. Every team that has employed him in a prominent front office position seems to always find quality football players. Here is a quick rundown of his notable accomplishments.
2005-2007: Dallas Cowboys VP of college scouting
- DeMarcus Ware
- Marion Barber
- Jay Ratliff
- Jason Hatcher
- Anthony Spencer
- Nick Folk
2008-2013: Miami Dolphins GM
- Jake Long
- Vontae Davis
- Reshad Jones
- Mike Pouncey
- Ryan Tannehill
- Olivier Vernon
- Lamar Miller
2015-present: Saints assistant GM
- Andrus Peat
- Michael Thomas
- Marshon Lattimore
- Ryan Ramczyk
- Alvin Kamara
Not a bad list at all. The Chicago Bears would probably do alright with somebody like Ireland running the front office. It becomes a question of whether he can find the right head coach. In this regard, he has connections to several that might be in the mix for that job as well. Among them are Todd Bowles, Brian Daboll, Dennis Allen, Kris Richard, Pete Carmichael, and maybe even Sean Payton himself.
The major snag in this situation for Ireland is would Bears ownership consider hiring another GM from the New Orleans front office after what happened with Pace? That feels like kind of a tough sell. Especially to the fans. If he does get an interview next month, he’ll have to do a good job arguing his case.