Chicago Bears: Possible Early Ryan Pace Replacement Ideas
By Erik Lambert
Joe Douglas (Vice president of player personnel, Philadelphia Eagles)
Chicago Bears fans may end up looking back on Joe Douglas as the front office version of Adam Gase. The gifted executive who gave the franchise one brilliant year of work before being hired for a greater position elsewhere. The last fleeting image they have of him was the excellent 2016 Bears draft class headlined by Leonard Floyd, Cody Whitehair and Jordan Howard. Just over a week after it ended the Philadelphia Eagles had hired him as VP of player personnel.
Douglas is one of the rising stars in NFL front office circles. Before his brief run in Chicago he’d spent 15 years with the Baltimore Ravens and helped them win two Super Bowls. Among the players he helped acquire were Jamal Lewis, Ed Reed, Terrell Suggs, Haloti Ngata and Marshal Yanda among others. He has a keen eye for what good football players look like.
If the Bears brass is wise, they’d certainly want to consider bringing him back. He’s known in the building by now and certainly respected after the success he helped bring. No doubt he’d jump at the chance to become a GM after waiting this long.