Rumor: Bears targeting Chiefs Director of Football Operations Mike Borgonzi

With the Chicago Bears sneaking into the playoffs thanks to a Rams win and a tiebreaker against the Cardinals, the Bears have made no changes on “Black Monday.” Then again, it’s quite possible that the .500 record would have been enough to save everyone’s jobs regardless of the playoff appearance.

However, there’s still a possibility that the team elects to make some changes based on going 3-7 in their final 10 games, and based on the uncertainty that still surrounds the quarterback situation.

There have been conflicting reports about head coach Matt Nagy being safe, but not much about general manager Ryan Pace until now.

In Brad Biggs’ recent 10 Thoughts article in the Chicago Tribune, he mentions that the Bears could be targeting Kansas City Chiefs Director of Football Operations Mike Borgonzi.

Here’s what he said.

Rumors have circulated in the last week that the Bears could target Kansas City Chiefs director of football operations Mike Borgonzi. This is speculation, but I heard this from two unrelated sources in the last few days, and with the Chiefs earning the No. 1 seed in the AFC playoffs, Borgonzi wouldn’t be available to be hired away until the season is complete for the defending Super Bowl champions.

Does that mean it’s Borgonzi or no one else? Absolutely not. But that’s a name that was churning in the rumor mill the past few days, and a quick hiring cycle this week by teams already looking for new a GM would not remove him from play. Obviously, there are many other people in consideration for GM jobs who are attached to playoff teams, but Borgonzi is the name I heard, and if the Bears would consider hiring a new GM to work with their current coach, he’s someone who could come in and have a preestablished relationship with Nagy.

The bit about a relationship with Nagy is yet another indication the buzz is true about the Bears wanting to keep their head coach around.

Borgonzi has been rumored to be a candidate of several teams that are seeking a new general manager. His resume with the Chiefs is impressive, as he just finished his 12th year in Kansas City, and his third as their Director of Football Operations. He started with them as the College Scouting Administrator in 2009, then he moved to the Manager of Football Operations the following year. From 2011 to 2013 he was K.C.’s Pro Personnel Scout, before being promoted to their Assistant Director of Pro Scouting in ‘13 and 14. He was then their Co-Director of Player Personnel for the next two years, and in 2017 he was named the Director of Player Personnel, before finally settling into his current role in 2018.

This rumor doesn’t necessarily mean that Pace would be out of a job, as I still have a gut feeling that the Bears could transition Pace up the chain to Ted Phillips’ president role with Phillips retiring.

What are your thoughts on this latest rumor?