Sunday’s matinee against Minnesota marks the likely end of the Matt Nagy era in Chicago. Unfortunately for a fanbase in limbo, nobody’s quite sure of the fate of failed general manager Ryan Pace, and CEO Ted Phillips probably isn’t going anywhere either.

That’s the reality of being a Bears fan right now. A team with a hot quarterback prospect, an aging defense and shaky offensive line is hardly something coaching prospects would jump at in the coming offseason.

However, Justin Fields is eye-opening enough to turn heads and attract top quality candidates. Fields is the key. Ignore the organization’s extreme dysfunction for a moment to acknowledge the importance of having a potential franchise quarterback on the come up in Chicago.

It changes the dynamic, and it should alter George McCaskey’s seemingly quiet offseason plan.

New management from finances to roster control to gameday operations; top to bottom. That is the change arguably necessary for the Bears to truly appeal to a fandom so desperately pinning its hopes and dreams on a 22-year-old kid from Kennesaw, Georgia.

Cycles. Never ending cycles.

But last year’s apathetic attitude turned to excitement when Pace traded up to pick Fields eleventh overall following a trade with the Giants.

Reactions ranged from “how did Fields fall?” to “MY Chicago Bears select Justin Fields.” It sent the “Fourth Phase” into a frenzy. The vibes were high.

Then, before any sort of competition could take place, Matt Nagy announced Andy Dalton the starting quarterback. A move that sent the fanbase spiraling from disappointment to confused anger, Dalton indeed started Week 1 in Los Angeles against the Rams (that game feels like an eternity ago, right?).

Injuries and probably some private discussions eventually led to Fields taking the reins earlier than Head Coach Matt Nagy wanted and anticipated.

But at every turn, it felt like mismanagement of the potential future of the franchise was a sick and twisted joke. Cracked ribs, rolled ankles and now COVID-19 protocols also frequently threw a wrench into the plans.

From apathy to excitement to disappointment to anger to excitement to apathy, in one calendar year the cycle is through.

Agonizingly so, while Monday likely spells an end to Matt Nagy’s tenure as head honcho of the football team, maybe Ryan Pace doesn’t face the necessary consequences and we restart an inevitable cycle that dooms progress and dampens hope of positive spirits.

That’s the general fear among Bears fans speeding towards Black Monday.

But if the Bears and George McCaskey decide to unexpectedly prove to the football community locally and nationwide that they refuse to waste Justin Fields’ many talents, then we’re in business.

Dear George,

Relieve Pace and Nagy on Monday. Remove Phillips from any impact on football operations at the same time. Don’t let Ernie Accorsi run the search. But listen to respected, trusted and football oriented voices within the game.

Hire Harbaugh, hire Daboll, or hire whomever you see fit for the duty of building the Chicago Bears into the respected organization it once was and deserves to be again.

But don’t think for a moment that Ryan Pace shouldn’t have twelve collapsible cardboard boxes in his office set up to house books and miscellaneous objects on Monday morning.

George, show us you care. We dare you. We beg of you. Please.