Chicago Bears: This Ryan Pace conspiracy theory needs to stop

The Chicago Bears head coach Matt Nagy chose the starter, not Ryan Pace

Listen, I can understand why many people might think Ryan Pace was the deciding factor behind who is starting under center for the Chicago Bears come Week 1 of the season. However, this is nothing more than a conspiracy theory.

I get it. You are an anti-Trubisky fan. Clearly that is what you are if you are already complaining or coming up with theories on why Mitch Trubisky is the starter for Week 1 opposed to Nick Foles. I know that I am being a little harsh here, but I have to call them as I see them. The correct response for this team and the fans should be excitement. The second-overall pick from 2017 has looked to improve in key areas during training camp.

Instead, everyone on social media, including some analysts, is crying foul and stating the competition was not fair. Many have even concocted the idea that Trubisky being named the starter came from Ryan Pace himself in an attempt to save his job. This is just not true and one simple reason tells us this. Contractually, Matt Nagy is the one who decides who starts and who sits for the Chicago Bears. Not the other way around.

Now, I am sure Pace had some influence as he may or may not have been in the film room as the coaches dissected the training camp film before naming the starter yesterday. However, that does not mean he had any say in if that starter would be Foles or Trubisky. In fact, Nagy and the other coaches already told us how they would choose the starters.

How the Chicago Bears came to the conclusion on their starting quarterback

Nagy, Bill Lazor, John DeFilippo and Dave Ragone were to break down every single camp throw and each quarterback would be graded based on decision-making and accuracy. Nagy stated that completions or incompletions would not necessarily matter. This means they are taking into account where the ball placement was and not giving either quarterback a break if the receiver bailed him out by making a great catch and vice-versa no one is penalized for a receiver’s drop.

Do we really think this was “coach speak”? No, it was not because again, contractually Nagy is the person who decides the Chicago Bears depth chart while Ryan Pace finalizes the 53-man roster and practice squads. Clearly, this also takes into account the coaches’ thoughts, but the final say is Pace’s just as the final say on the depth chart and who starts is Nagy’s.

This is why we need to stop spreading this false narrative. Now, could things look different today if the preseason games were not canceled? Sure they could. Trubisky could struggle with what he excelled in at camp during live game speed. He will likely be on a short leash and a swap could happen if he struggles. However, he did enough and showed enough growth in areas Nagy wanted to see from him to earn the starting job. Nagy, not Pace made this call.

Let’s stop spreading false narratives and cheer on whoever is under center, shall we?