The search for the Bears successor to the head coach throne has led them to interview offensive coordinator of the Chiefs Matt Nagy. Though nothing is set in stone just yet, Ryan Pace is reportedly keen on the 39-year-old coordinator. The Chiefs have one of the highest octane offenses in the game, sixth in points per game and fifth in yards per game.
NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reports that the Bears have requested to speak to the Chiefs’ signal caller. ESPN’s Adam Schefter had announced it on a graphic earlier in the day, but Rapoport had the first official report.
He has clung to current Chiefs head coach Andy Reid for his entire career, serving as a coaches’ assistant and an offensive quality control coach from 2009 to 2012 in Philadelphia. Nagy then followed Reid to Kansas City in 2013 as quarterbacks coach up until 2015 when he was promoted to offensive coordinator after Doug Pederson left to coach the Eagles.
He reignited a stumbling Chiefs offense after taking the play calling reigns from Reid in Week 13 and led the team to a four-game win streak, averaging 28 points a game to end out the season.
His offensive prowess revolves around intelligent play calling and strong quarterback development. Alex Smith, under his wing, has budded into a top-level quarterback, even capturing an MVP bid early in the season after beginning his career as a subpar starter.
After a season of offensive blunders and bumbles, it’s no secret the Bears are gunning for an offensive minded coach (see: Josh McDaniels, Pat Shurmur) and Nagy is no surprise to see on the radar. It would be a dream come true to see a coach be able to come in and help Trubisky take the leap and breakout a la Carson Wentz and Jared Goff in his second season as a Bear.
Since Kansas City does not have a first-round bye, the Bears will not be able to interview Nagy until after Kansas City’s first-round matchup against Tennessee.
