Ryan Pace will be the next general manager of the Chicago Bears.

The team agreed to hire the veteran personnel man who spent 14 seasons with the New Orleans Saints in various roles, including the past two as director of player personnel.

Pace replaced Phil Emery, who was fired Dec. 29 after three seasons as general manager. Pace will be the third general manager in five years for the Bears. Jerry Angelo, like Pace and Emery a first-time GM, was fired after the 2011 season.

Pace started with the Saints as a scouting assistant in 2002 and helped build a team that won the franchise’s first Super Bowl title (XLIV).

The decision to hire Pace might be viewed as a mild upset. The favorite for the job was considered Chris Ballard of the Kansas City Chiefs, who worked under Angelo in Chicago. Ballard interviewed with the Bears on Wednesday.

The first task for Pace will be helping management find a head coach.

Marc Trestman was fired along with Emery after two seasons. The Bears finished 6-10 in 2014.