Bears GM Ryan Pace recognizes that even though the Bears made the playoffs, this season fell well short of expectations, and he and Matt Nagy have to prove ownership right in their decision to give them another shot.
The Bears won't be the only NFC North team looking to address the quarterback position this offseason.
The Lions and Matthew Stafford have mutually agreed to part ways, according to multiple reports.
Detroit will begin listening to trade offers for Stafford, 33 in February, this coming week, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.
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Stafford has spent his entire 12-season career with the Lions, who drafted him No. 1 overall in 2009. They've made the playoffs three times over that span (2011, 2014, 2016), losing in the Wild Card round each time.
Stafford has two years remaining on the five-year, $135 million extension he signed in August 2017. He's due base salaries of $9.5 million in 2021 and $12.5 million in 2022, along with $10 million roster bonuses each season and $500K workout bonuses. His cap is $20 million in 2021 and $23 million in 2022.
The Lions, who recently named Dan Campbell their head coach and Brad Holmes their general manager, hold the No. 7 overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft.
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