The Chicago Bears introduced Ryan Pace as their new general manager Friday morning at Halas Hall. The ceremonial news conference came 11 days after the team fired former GM Phil Emery and head coach Marc Trestman following a disappointing 5-11 season.
Pace, after 14 seasons with the New Orleans Saints including the past two as the director of player personnel, takes on a team that's looking to make a climb back toward prominence after this past season's last-place finish in the NFC North.
Pace, who Bears chairman George McCaskey said agreed to a five-year contract, had plenty to say during Friday's proceedings in Lake Forest. Here are some of the highlights.
On getting started as the Bears' new GM
"Our plan will start being put into place to get the Chicago Bears back to the sustained success this city deserves. The first order of business is to hire the right head coach to lead us to championships. Right now, that is the most critical thing I am doing. I'm not going to get into specific candidates today but I can assure you I understand the importance of decision. I witnessed this first-hand in New Orleans with Sean Payton and how that was the spark that got the New Orleans Saints headed in the right direction."
On creating a successful blueprint
"The recipe to winning Super Bowls is stringing successful drafts together again and again. We are not just collecting athletes. We are acquiring football players that fit the Chicago Bears. There will be a major emphasis on character, toughness, instincts and intelligence. Guys, it's all about winning games and that's what I'm here to do. Every decision we make goes back to what's best for this organization. It's as simple as that."
On what he learned from his 14 years in New Orleans from observing the Saints roster stripped down then built back up into a Super Bowl team
"When I think about my experiences in New Orleans, that's the thing I benefited from the most. We had a 3-13 season in 2005, Hurricane Katrina. We immediately rebounded to playing in the NFC championship the next year. So how did that process start? It started when (Saints GM) Mickey Loomis hired Sean Payton. So it's hiring the right head coach. We developed an organizational philosophy right then and there on the players that we wanted to acquire and the whole building was on the same page. Everything was focused on winning games, everyone dropped their egos and the rest is history."
On what he's looking for most in a head coach
"It doesn't matter if it's an offensive or defensive coach, if it's a 3-4 (defense) or 4-3. I'm looking for the best head coach that has the traits we're looking for. That's confidence, charisma, discipline, leadership, those types of things. The best man for the job."
On why, at age 37, this felt like the right time and fit
"I was in a good situation in New Orleans. I worked with great people there in a good environment. I wasn't one of those guys looking to jump to the next job. This was a very thorough and calculated decision by me and my family. And that's because this is a historic franchise that desperately wants to win and they're willing to do whatever it takes for that to happen. And I want to be leading that charge."
On what he looks for in a quarterback
"The quarterback obviously is a critical, critical position to achieve sustained success. But it's not the only position. For us to have a lot of success, all 53 guys are going to be accounted for. So yeah, I witnessed things with Drew Brees that I have in my mind, that I know why he was successful. And those are ingrained in me. But I want to get to know Jay (Cutler). I want to get to know him further before I come to these conclusions."
