Matt Nagy’s Coaching Reset: From Head Coach Hopeful to OC in New York
The NFL's coaching carousel has come to a full stop, with Klint Kubiak heading to Las Vegas and Mike LaFleur landing in Arizona. But as the dust settles, one name stands out not for where he landed, but for where he didn’t: Matt Nagy.
Once a Coach of the Year and the architect of a 12-4 season in Chicago, Nagy spent this offseason trying to rebrand himself as a more self-aware, evolved leader. There were interviews, buzz, and a clear effort to get back in the head coaching conversation. But when the music stopped, the only seat left was as the offensive coordinator for the New York Giants-a far cry from the top job he was aiming for.
So what went wrong? Two major chapters in Nagy’s coaching story continue to cast long shadows: his unraveling in Chicago and the offensive struggles in Kansas City.
The Chicago Chapter: A Fast Start, Then a Hard Fall
Nagy’s tenure with the Bears started with promise. He brought energy, a 12-4 record, and an NFC North title in his first year. For a franchise starving for offensive innovation, he looked like the guy who could finally modernize Chicago’s attack.
But the honeymoon didn’t last. Over the next three seasons, the offense spiraled into one of the league’s most stagnant units.
Playcalling became predictable. Creativity gave way to confusion.
And when things went south, Nagy twice handed over playcalling duties to Bill Lazor-each time with noticeable improvement.
The quarterback situation didn’t help. Mitchell Trubisky never developed into the franchise passer the Bears hoped for, and when Justin Fields was drafted in 2021, the expectations were sky-high.
But Fields’ debut-highlighted by nine sacks-was a disaster, and the blame fell squarely on Nagy’s shoulders. The offense looked ill-fitted to Fields’ strengths, and the game plan felt more like a square peg in a round hole than a tailored approach to a young quarterback’s skill set.
In a league where adaptability is everything, Nagy was seen as too rigid-more committed to his system than to the players running it. That perception stuck.
The Kansas City Collapse: A Reputation Takes Another Hit
After Chicago, Nagy returned to Kansas City-where his coaching rise began-looking to rebuild his image. The Chiefs were riding high, fresh off back-to-back Super Bowl wins. But in 2025, things fell apart.
Kansas City finished 6-11, the worst season of the Patrick Mahomes era. And while Mahomes’ late-season ACL and LCL tear was a devastating blow, the offense had already been sputtering. For a team known for its explosive creativity, the unit looked stale and out of sync.
Mahomes, typically diplomatic, didn’t name names when he addressed the offensive issues. But his comments about the need for “new ideas” and “accountability” were loud enough. When the face of the league speaks that candidly, the message resonates-especially when you're the offensive coordinator.
The Chiefs’ response was swift. They brought back Eric Bieniemy, who had spent 2025 with the Bears as their running backs coach.
That move spoke volumes. Kansas City wanted fresh thinking, and they didn’t believe Nagy was the guy to provide it.
A New Chapter in New York-But a Steep Climb Ahead
Now, Nagy finds himself in New York, tasked with running an offense that’s been searching for stability. It’s not the head coaching role he spent the offseason chasing, but it’s a chance to reset.
Still, there’s no sugarcoating it-this was a tough offseason for Nagy. In a cycle where young minds and fresh philosophies were in demand, he was passed over. And in a league that doesn’t forget, his past decisions continue to shape his future.
The opportunity in New York could be a stepping stone. But to climb back into the head coaching conversation, Nagy will need more than a solid season-he’ll need to prove that he’s evolved, that he can adapt, and that he can build an offense around the players he has, not just the system he prefers.
For now, he’s not leading a franchise. He’s trying to earn back trust. And in an offseason full of rising stars and second chances, no one took a bigger hit than Matt Nagy.