Marty Barrett Out as Chicago Bears Director of College Scouting
Feb 18, 2015; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Chicago Bears general manager Ryan Pace speaks at a press conference during the 2015 NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports
New GM Ryan Pace is intent on making over the Chicago Bears both on the field and in the front office. Pace took another step toward molding the franchise in his image by parting ways with college scouting director Marty Barrett just a couple of days removed from the draft. Scout Jay Muraco was also let go. The timing of the move makes sense; there was no point in disrupting the scouting department in the days and weeks leading up the draft since Pace took over in January. Pace was asked if any changes to the scouting department were coming after the draft.
"“All those things we’ll go over … the next two weeks,” he said. “And kind of go through that process. My entire focus has been on the draft, and making sure we have a successful draft. And then I’ll review all that within the next month.”"
The move shouldn’t come as a huge surprise since Pace fired director of pro personnel Kevin Turks shortly after he was hired, bringing in former Saints front office colleague Josh Lucas as director of player personnel, overseeing both pro and college scouting. Pace’s background with the Saints had the college and pro scouting departments merged, so it’s a natural fit that he’d want to have a similar structure at Halas Hall.
Barrett was with the Bears for 18 seasons, starting out as a regional scout in 1997. Barrett had been promoted to director of college scouting three-year ago under then-GM Phil Emery. Before joining the Bears in 1997, Barrett spent a few years with the Saints in the same West regional scout role. Barrett has coaching experience, coaching at University of Buffalo, his alma mater where he was a three-year letterman as starting quarterback. Barrett’s coaching career began in 1984 where he served as a volunteer assistant coach at Indiana University of Pennsylvania. Barrett has a Bachelors of Physical Education and a Masters in Sports Science.
Former Bears scout Rex Hogan, who had been let go when Turks was fired, has landed with the Jets as director of college scouting. He could offer a landing spot Barrett, a NY native.
The Bears will be scouted and viewed in a very different way in the years to come. What do you think of the move? Are you surprised?