# Ryan Pace > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Ryan_Pace > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Ryan_Pace.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ryan_Pace > Source revision: 1341031026 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) {{Short description|American sports executive (born 1977)}} {{Use American English|date=November 2025}} {{Use mdy dates|date=January 2019}} {{Infobox NFL biography | name = Ryan Pace | image = | alt = | caption = | current_team = | position = | career_position =de | career_number = | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1977|2|17}} | birth_place = [Flower Mound, Texas](/source/Flower_Mound%2C_Texas), U.S. | death_date = | death_place = | height_ft = 6 | height_in = 3 | weight_lb = 250 | high_school = [Marcus](/source/Edward_S._Marcus_High_School) (Flower Mound, Texas) | college = [Eastern Illinois](/source/Eastern_Illinois_Panthers) | pastexecutive = * {{ubl|[New Orleans Saints](/source/New_Orleans_Saints) ({{nfly|2001|2014}})}} ** {{ubl|Operations assistant ({{nfly|2001}})}} ** {{ubl|Scouting assistant ({{nfly|2002|2003}})}} ** {{ubl|Professional personnel scout ({{nfly|2004|2006}})}} ** {{ubl|Director of professional scouting ({{nfly|2007|2012}})}} ** {{ubl|Director of player personnel ({{nfly|2013|2014}})}} * [Chicago Bears](/source/Chicago_Bears) ({{nfly|2015}}–{{nfly|2021}})
General manager * {{ubl|[Atlanta Falcons](/source/Atlanta_Falcons) ({{nfly|2022|2025}})}} ** {{ubl|Senior personnel executive ({{nfly|2022}})}} ** {{ubl|Director of player personnel ({{nfly|2023}})}} ** {{ubl|Vice president of football operations & player personnel ({{nfly|2024|2025}})}} | highlights = * [Super Bowl](/source/Super_Bowl) champion ([XLIV](/source/Super_Bowl_XLIV)) * ''[Sporting News](/source/Sporting_News)'' Executive of the Year (2018) }} '''Ryan Pace''' (born February 17, 1977) is an American sports executive in the [National Football League](/source/National_Football_League) (NFL) who was most recently the vice president of football operations for the [Atlanta Falcons](/source/Atlanta_Falcons). He served as the general manager of the [Chicago Bears](/source/Chicago_Bears) from 2015 to 2021. Before that, he worked in the [New Orleans Saints](/source/New_Orleans_Saints)' front office for 14 years. ==College career== Pace played [linebacker](/source/linebacker) at [Edward S. Marcus High School](/source/Edward_S._Marcus_High_School) before committing to [Eastern Illinois](/source/Eastern_Illinois_Panthers_football) in 1995; he had also received offers from [Illinois State](/source/Illinois_State_Redbirds_football), [North Texas](/source/North_Texas_Mean_Green_football), [Texas State](/source/Texas_State_Bobcats_football), and [Western Illinois](/source/Western_Illinois_Leathernecks_football). EIU offensive line coach and recruiting coordinator Clancy Barone praised Pace for his speed and athleticism, saying he "showed good toughness on film."{{cite news|last=Nielsen|first=Brian|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/27219498/eiu_signs_one_player_from_academy/|title=EIU signs one player from academy, might get another|newspaper=Times-Courier (Mattoon, Illinois)|via=[Newspapers.com](/source/Newspapers.com)|date=April 5, 1995|access-date=January 14, 2019}} At EIU, he converted to [defensive end](/source/defensive_end) and played for the Panthers from 1996 to 1999.{{cite web|url=https://eiupanthers.com/news/2015/1/8/FB_0108151205.aspx|title=Former EIU Player Ryan Pace Named Bears GM|work=[Eastern Illinois Panthers](/source/Eastern_Illinois_Panthers)|date=January 8, 2015|access-date=January 14, 2019}} ==Professional career== ===New Orleans Saints=== After not gaining any opportunities as a player, Pace was hired by the [New Orleans Saints](/source/New_Orleans_Saints) in 2001 as a coaching intern.{{cite news|last=Nielsen|first=Brian|date=October 13, 2001|title=Former Panther enjoying life in the NFL's other side|newspaper=Times-Courier (Mattoon, Illinois)|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/27218536/former_panther_enjoying_life_in_the/|access-date=January 14, 2019|via=[Newspapers.com](/source/Newspapers.com)}} Six years later, Pace became the director of pro personnel, and in 2013, became the director of player personnel.{{cite web|last=Dickerson|first=Jeff|url=http://espn.go.com/blog/chicago/bears/post/_/id/4696879/potential-gms-chris-ballard-ryan-pace-visit-bears|title=Potential GMs Chris Ballard, Ryan Pace visit Bears|publisher=[ESPN](/source/ESPN)|date=January 7, 2015|access-date=January 8, 2015}} Pace was an executive in New Orleans during the team's most successful stretch in franchise history which included five playoff appearances, two NFC Championship appearances and winning [Super Bowl XLIV](/source/Super_Bowl_XLIV). ===Chicago Bears=== In 2015, Pace was offered an interview for the general manager position by the [New York Jets](/source/New_York_Jets), but declined. He was later interviewed by the [Chicago Bears](/source/Chicago_Bears) for the general manager position on January 7, and was hired the next day.{{cite news|last1=Biggs|first1=Brad|last2=Campbell|first2=Rich|last3=Wiederer|first3=Dan|url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/football/bears/chi-bears-hire-ryan-pace-gm-story.html|title=Bears hire Ryan Pace as general manager|newspaper=[Chicago Tribune](/source/Chicago_Tribune)|date=January 8, 2015|access-date=January 8, 2015}} At 37 years of age at the time of his hiring, Pace was the youngest general manager in the NFL.{{cite web|last=Mayer|first=Larry|url=http://www.chicagobears.com/news/article-1/Pace-considers-Bears-a-perfect-fit/4c12b537-941b-436d-ab22-1fa9e9ed9f49|title=Pace considers Bears a perfect fit|publisher=[Chicago Bears](/source/Chicago_Bears)|date=January 9, 2015|access-date=January 9, 2015}} To replace the fired [Marc Trestman](/source/Marc_Trestman), Pace hired [John Fox](/source/John_Fox_(American_football)) as the Bears' head coach.{{cite web|last=Wright|first=Michael C.|url=http://espn.go.com/chicago/nfl/story/_/id/12180347/chicago-bears-hire-john-fox-coach|title=Bears hire John Fox as coach|publisher=[ESPN](/source/ESPN)|date=January 16, 2015|access-date=January 16, 2015}} Pace's [first draft](/source/2015_NFL_draft) as Bears general manager saw him select [Kevin White](/source/Kevin_White_(American_football)) in the [first round](/source/List_of_Chicago_Bears_first-round_draft_picks).{{cite web|last=Neveau|first=James|url=https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/nfl-draft-grading-ryan-paces-first-performance-as-gm/98868/|title=NFL Draft: Grading Ryan Pace's First Performance as G.M.|publisher=[WMAQ-TV](/source/WMAQ-TV)|date=May 2, 2015|access-date=April 28, 2020}} After a 3–13 season in 2016 that gave the Bears the third-overall pick in the [2017 NFL draft](/source/2017_NFL_draft), Pace moved up a spot in a trade with the [San Francisco 49ers](/source/San_Francisco_49ers) to draft quarterback [Mitchell Trubisky](/source/Mitchell_Trubisky). Trubisky was the franchise's highest draft pick since 1951 and the highest it had taken a quarterback at that point.{{cite news|last=Stankevitz|first=JJ|url=https://www.nbcsports.com/chicago/chicago-bears/bears-trade-and-get-their-quarterback-north-carolinas-mitchell-trubisky|title=Bears trade up and get their quarterback: North Carolina's Mitchell Trubisky|publisher=[NBC Sports](/source/NBC_Sports)|date=April 27, 2017|access-date=April 28, 2020}} In Pace's first three years and the stretch of Fox's tenure, the Bears went 14–34, leading to Fox's firing after the 2017 season.{{cite web|last=Patra|first=Kevin|url=http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000901544/article/chicago-bears-fire-coach-john-fox-after-511-season|title=Chicago Bears fire coach John Fox after 5-11 season|publisher=[National Football League](/source/National_Football_League)|date=January 1, 2018|access-date=January 1, 2018|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180101174300/http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000901544/article/chicago-bears-fire-coach-john-fox-after-511-season|archive-date=January 1, 2018}} After Fox's firing, Pace hired [Matt Nagy](/source/Matt_Nagy) as Chicago's next head coach in 2018.{{cite news|last=Biggs|first=Brad|title=Bears hire Matt Nagy as franchise's 16th head coach|url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/football/bears/ct-spt-bears-matt-nagy-coach-20180108-story.html|newspaper=[Chicago Tribune](/source/Chicago_Tribune)|date=January 8, 2018|access-date=January 8, 2018}} Before the season, the Bears traded their 2019 and 2020 first round draft picks for star [Oakland Raiders](/source/Oakland_Raiders) outside linebacker [Khalil Mack](/source/Khalil_Mack) and made him the highest-paid defensive player in NFL history.{{cite web|url=http://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/24543080/chicago-bears-reach-agreement-trade-khalil-mack-oakland-raiders|title=Bears acquire Khalil Mack from Raiders, reach $141M extension|work=[ESPN](/source/ESPN)|date=September 2, 2018|access-date=September 4, 2018}} That year, the Bears went 12–4 to win the [NFC North](/source/NFC_North) for the first time since 2010, while [Eddie Jackson](/source/Eddie_Jackson_(safety)) and [Tarik Cohen](/source/Tarik_Cohen), two fourth-round picks Pace made in 2017, were named [All-Pro](/source/All-Pro). Trubisky was named to the [Pro Bowl](/source/Pro_Bowl) as well. Pace was eventually named Executive of the Year by the ''[Sporting News](/source/Sporting_News)'', becoming the third Bears general manager to win the award after [George Halas](/source/George_Halas) in 1956 and [Michael McCaskey](/source/Michael_McCaskey) in 1985.{{cite web|last=Ellis|first=Cam|url=https://www.nbcsports.com/chicago/bears/gm-ryan-pace-named-sporting-news-executive-year-first-bears-gm-win-1985|title=GM Ryan Pace named Sporting News' Executive of the Year, first Bears GM to win since 1985|publisher=[NBC Sports Chicago](/source/NBC_Sports_Chicago)|date=March 25, 2019|access-date=March 29, 2019}} The Bears had the 20th overall pick in the [2021 NFL draft](/source/2021_NFL_draft). Pace moved up nine spots in the first round in a trade with the [New York Giants](/source/New_York_Giants) to select quarterback [Justin Fields](/source/Justin_Fields).{{Cite web|last=Finley|first=Patrick|date=2022-01-10|title=Bears fire GM Ryan Pace after 48-65 record to complete housecleaning|url=https://chicago.suntimes.com/bears/2022/1/10/22872915/ryan-pace-fired-bears-gm-general-manager-record-draft-matt-nagy-mitchell-trubisky-justin-fields|access-date=2022-01-11|website=Chicago Sun-Times|language=en}} After a 6–11 [2021 campaign](/source/2021_Chicago_Bears_season), Pace and Nagy were fired on January 10, 2022. In seven seasons under Pace, Chicago went 48–65 with two playoff appearances (0–2 in playoff games). Following his exit, he released a statement of gratitude that described the news as "the tough part" of his occupation but he was "proud to have poured absolutely everything into making the Chicago Bears a better football team every single day".{{cite news|last=Mayer|first=Larry|url=https://www.chicagobears.com/news/ryan-pace-matt-nagy-release-statements-thanking-bears|title=Pace, Nagy release statements thanking Bears|publisher=[Chicago Bears](/source/Chicago_Bears)|date=January 10, 2022|access-date=January 18, 2022}} ===Atlanta Falcons=== On February 23, 2022, Pace was hired by the [Atlanta Falcons](/source/Atlanta_Falcons) as a senior personnel executive. The move reunited him with Falcons general manager [Terry Fontenot](/source/Terry_Fontenot), with whom he worked in New Orleans. On June 26, 2023, he was promoted to director of player personnel for the Falcons.{{cite web |last1=Simmons |first1=Myles |title=Report: Falcons promote Kyle Smith, Ryan Pace in front office |url=https://www.nbcsports.com/nfl/profootballtalk/rumor-mill/news/report-falcons-promote-kyle-smith-ryan-pace-in-front-office |website=NBC Sports|date=June 26, 2023 }} He was elevated to vice president of football operations and player personnel ahead of the 2024 season.{{Cite news |last=Williams |first=Charean |author-link=Charean Williams |date=August 19, 2024 |title=Falcons promote Ryan Pace to VP of football operations/player personnel |url=https://www.nbcsports.com/nfl/profootballtalk/rumor-mill/news/falcons-promote-ryan-pace-to-vp-of-football-operations-player-personnel |access-date=December 30, 2024 |work=[ProFootballTalk](/source/ProFootballTalk) |publisher=[NBC Sports](/source/NBC_Sports)}} On February 7, 2026, it was announced that the Falcons and Pace had parted ways as part of a broader restructuring.{{Cite web|title=Former Chicago Bears GM Ryan Pace Is in the News Again|url=https://www.si.com/nfl/bears/onsi/news/former-chicago-bears-gm-ryan-pace-in-the-news-again|access-date=February 26, 2026|website=si.com|language=en}} ==Personal life== The son of Michael Pace and Ginger Phillips, Pace grew up in [Flower Mound, Texas](/source/Flower_Mound%2C_Texas), which is a suburb of Dallas. His grandfather Buck was a [minor league baseball](/source/minor_league_baseball) player.{{cite news|last=Nielsen|first=Brian|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/27218185/mcelroy_ready_to_go_with_colts/|title=McElroy ready to go with Colts|newspaper=Times-Courier (Mattoon, Illinois)|via=[Newspapers.com](/source/Newspapers.com)|date=July 31, 1999|access-date=January 14, 2019|quote=A week before the [Ohio Valley Conference](/source/Ohio_Valley_Conference) media day, Eastern's football press guides have arrived. [...] [S]enior defensive end Ryan Pace's grandfather played for the Washington Senators[.]}}{{cite news|last=Nielsen|first=Brian|date=October 30, 1999|title=EIU lineman improving at a rapid Pace|newspaper=Times-Courier (Mattoon, Illinois)|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/27218962/eiu_lineman_improving_at_a_rapid_pace/|access-date=January 14, 2019|via=[Newspapers.com](/source/Newspapers.com)}} He and his wife Stephanie have one daughter together.{{cite web|url=http://www.chicagobears.com/multimedia/photo-gallery/Bears-GM-Ryan-Pace-Day-One/a7e4e4cc-7963-4fd7-9865-203cfc740fd1|title=Bears GM Ryan Pace: Day One|work=[Chicago Bears](/source/Chicago_Bears)|date=January 9, 2015|access-date=January 9, 2015}} ==References== {{reflist}} ==External links== * [http://www.chicagobears.com/team/staff/Ryan-Pace/705448c7-fd7e-4c3f-8f1a-91566dff67ab Chicago Bears bio] {{Chicago Bears general manager navbox}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Pace, Ryan}} Category:Living people Category:1977 births Category:Sportspeople from Flower Mound, Texas Category:NFL general managers Category:Players of American football from Texas Category:Eastern Illinois Panthers football players Category:Edward S. Marcus High School alumni Category:Atlanta Falcons executives Category:Chicago Bears executives Category:New Orleans Saints executives --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Ryan Pace](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ryan_Pace) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ryan_Pace?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.