Could Ryan Pace cost Chicago Bears Jim Harbaugh

The Chicago Bears have yet to decide on the status of General Manager Ryan Pace, but reports seem to lean towards him being retained. This is big news for the fans of the organization because Pace will have the call on who he hires as the next head coach. Even if he changes roles, his say in the hiring of the football operations or next GM would go a long way in their head coach search.

While reports have recently come out that Jim Harbaugh may be interested in the NFL, Bears fans may want to pump their breaks on his return to Chicago.

While Harbaugh reportedly is interested in both Chicago and the Las Vegas Raiders job, the Chicago interest may be dependent on the status of Ryan Pace. Mike Lombardi, who gave Jim Harbaugh his first job in the NFL, seems to think that Harbaugh will not work with Ryan Pace.

This makes sense in a few ways. First, Harbaugh would want to come in as a CEO type. He would not want to be the GM himself, but he certainly would want a package deal that includes a GM that he is familiar with, and knows will give him the reins. Mike Mayock at the Raiders is a good friend of Harbaugh.

Ryan Pace is a bit controlling and even shut out John Fox of who the team would select as the quarterback. Jim Harbaugh would quit on the spot if Pace did that to him.

Beyond that, you have to wonder what Harbaugh thinks of Pace after Vic Fangio left. Fangio interviewed for the Chicago Bears job and was not given it as Matt Nagy was hired. Fangio then left, and Nagy failed as head coach.

This matters because Fangio took the Bears job after years of working with his good friend Jim Harbaugh for the 49ers. Fangio would not work for Pace again unless he were the head coach, and Harbaugh may be eyeing Fangio as his defensive coordinator. A return for both to Chicago makes sense, but not if Ryan Pace is there.

If the Chicago Bears want Jim Harbaugh they have to move on from Ryan Pace. Mike Lombardi is saying it, and it makes too much sense to not believe him. Why would Harbaugh want to step into a situation that is not clean, not his, and has him reporting to someone who he does not know or trust?