It seems conspiracy theories are a popular topic these days, be it in politics or sports. With free agency and the draft in the rearview mirror, there is time to stop and examine the Chicago Bears situation. One topic that seems to come up a lot is the future of GM Ryan Pace. Could 2020 be his last stand? Most seem to think unless the Bears deliver a winning season, that is the case. Hence why speculation is ongoing on who possible replacements could be. One name that isn't discussed but should be? Peyton Manning.
The wider NFL views the Hall of Fame quarterback as the white whale. Somebody teams desperately want to lead their organization. It's not hard to understand why. Manning has one of the best football minds ever witnessed. He'd bring instant credibility to a franchise and would likely do whatever it took to create a winner. Kalyn Kahler of Bleacher Report just did an excellent close-up on the retired QB.
Many seem to think it's only a matter of time before he is running his own team.
Three sources who have spent time with Manning say that what he really wants to do is run a team with an ownership stake. Call it the Michael Jordan model.
"I could see him running an organization," former NFL head coach and three-time Super Bowl champion Mike Shanahan says. "He is so on top of every area because he has been working at it his whole life."...
...While Manning says making the shift into a front office is "just not something that I have moved on yet," multiple sources interviewed for this story agree his ultra-competitive nature will probably make him more likely to run a team than become a broadcaster.
So what does Peyton Manning have to do with the Bears?
Now there is no hard evidence to support the idea that Bears ownership is biding their time for a chance to nab Manning. However, there have been certain indications over the past few years that makes one wonder if the McCaskey family are among those most interested in reeling him in somehow.
Manning visited the Bears facility multiple times after he retired. He attended practices in both 2016 and 2017. He did an outstanding episode of Peyton's Place for ESPN+ where he was baptized as an official Bears fan. Where it really gets interesting is his connection to the franchise's legacy.
One thing Manning has a clear appreciation for is football history. That's not a surprise given his father Archie was a star quarterback in his era of the 1970s. What many may not know is Archie Manning had a relationship with legendary Bears running back Walter Payton. The two worked together in Jackson, Mississippi.
The future icon always jokes the Mannings named Peyton after him.
There's even a story where Payton basically kidnapped a four-year-old Manning at the 1979 Pro Bowl. They spent an hour together having fun at the beach while Archie nervously searched for his son. Is it so hard to think that the young Manning might've developed a love for the Bears thanks to experiences like that?
There are other interesting comments. During an interview with Bears matriarch Virginia McCaskey, Manning lamented how he felt Chicago was where the quarterback position was truly born.
“In a lot of ways, this is kind of where my position sort of was born, right here. The quarterback position with [Sid] Luckman and the T-formation… Halas got that started.”
Clearly the franchise holds a sentimental place in his heart.
Then there is the last key to all of this. Age. Virginia is 97-years old. Her time is running short. Also is the situation with team president Ted Phillips. He is set to turn 63 in June this year. He's held his title since way back in 1999. While the McCaskeys have remained loyal to him, they might feel the time is approaching for a change. Manning, who is 44-years old and a far more proven football mind, would be the ideal heir apparent.
Virginia could rest easy knowing her father's beloved franchise would be left in the most capable of hands. Manning would get the complete autonomy he's likely seeking. It makes sense on a number of levels.
Obviously this is all speculation. Still, it's hard not to see such a strange sequence of events over the years and not at least wonder.
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