Saints Director of Player Personnel Ryan Pace’s name has surfaced in connection to another NFL general manager vacancy.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported on Wednesday night that the Chicago Bears have requested permission to interview Pace for a GM spot that was opened up when the franchise cleaned house Monday after finishing 5-11 in 2014. The Bears have also asked to speak with Kansas City’s Chris Ballard, Tennessee’s Lake Dawson, Baltimore’s Eric DeCosta and Houston’s Brian Gaine to potentially fill the job, Schefter reported.
The NFL Network on Sunday said Pace was on a short-list of possible targets to become the GM of the Jets after New York cleaned house as well.
Pace is in his 13th year of employment with the Saints, and it’s his second as the player personnel director. Coach Sean Payton credits him frequently in news conferences whenever veteran free agents arrive and make a positive impact.
That was more the case in 2013, when the Saints fielded the fourth-ranked offense and defense to reach the playoffs.
This year, the Saints’ offense was similarly productive but intermittently turnover prone. The defense allowed the second-most yards in the NFL, and the Saints (7-9) missed the playoffs.
Without referring to any specific position in the NFL, Pace in late January 2014 indicated not just any job would tempt him to leave the Saints. He cited the close relationship between the Saints’ scouting department and coaching staff as the primary reason for that.
The Dolphins last year tried to interview Pace for a general manager job but weren’t able to. Nonetheless, Saints general manager Mickey Loomis has said it’s inevitable Pace would leave the organization for the right opportunity if it ever presented itself.
Coach Sean Payton reiterated that sentiment this week, so expect to hear Pace’s name connected to more GM vacancies soon.
“He is really good at what he does,” Payton said Monday, the day after the Saints won their season finale at Tampa Bay (2-14). “Guys like him, they are talented.
“I know this, I get fired up when he comes to see me first thing this morning. His mind is already racing. I know he is all in. He is all in with us.”