Matt Nagy’s Future in Kansas City Uncertain, but Andy Reid Has His Back
KANSAS CITY, Mo. - As the Chiefs navigate a rocky end to their regular season, offensive coordinator Matt Nagy finds himself at the center of some swirling questions - not just about Kansas City's offensive drop-off, but about his own future with the team.
Nagy, now in his third season back as OC under Andy Reid, is reportedly in the final year of his contract. He opted not to sign an extension last offseason, and while that decision has sparked plenty of speculation, Nagy isn’t looking to add fuel to the fire.
“It’s a fair question,” Nagy said Tuesday when asked about his contract status. “But for me, I honestly want to just focus right now on [this week’s game against the Broncos].
I know that stuff will all take care of itself down the road. I have just so much respect for our organization here, from top down.”
That’s been Nagy’s consistent approach - keep the focus on the task at hand, even as reports link him to other opportunities. According to multiple outlets, Nagy is seen internally as a legitimate candidate for the Tennessee Titans’ head coaching vacancy. That connection makes sense: Titans GM Mike Borgonzi spent 15 years in the Chiefs’ front office, overlapping with Nagy’s time in Kansas City.
If Nagy doesn’t land a head coaching job, he’s expected to be a hot name for other play-calling roles around the league.
But his current standing in Kansas City is a bit of a mixed bag.
On one hand, he’s got the full support of Andy Reid. The two have a long-standing relationship, and Reid trusts Nagy enough to help steer an offense that, for a stretch this season, looked like one of the most efficient in the NFL. Reid still calls the plays on game day, but it’s Nagy who relays them into Patrick Mahomes’ headset and works closely with the quarterback throughout the week.
When asked to evaluate Nagy’s performance this season, Reid didn’t hesitate.
“Phenomenal,” he said. “We were on a record pace there for a bit, as far as statistically. He does a nice job there.”
Reid’s likely referencing the Chiefs’ first 11 games - before the offensive line took a hit with injuries to both starting tackles and while Mahomes was still fully healthy. During that stretch, the offense was humming. According to TruMedia, Kansas City ranked first in yards per drive (39.5), second in points per drive (2.64), second in scoring drive percentage (49.5%), and sixth in touchdown drive percentage (29.5%).
That kind of production is hard to sustain, especially when injuries start to pile up. And over the last month, the Chiefs have felt it. Four straight losses later, they’ve slipped out of playoff contention - a stunning fall for a team that looked like a contender just weeks ago.
Naturally, when a high-powered offense sputters, fingers start pointing. And some fans haven’t been shy about placing the blame on Nagy. Critics have drawn comparisons to the offense under former OC Eric Bieniemy, when the Chiefs were lighting up scoreboards with Tyreek Hill stretching defenses and a younger Travis Kelce dominating the middle of the field.
Of course, the roster isn’t the same now. Hill’s been gone for a while, and Kelce’s still effective but not quite the game-breaker he was in his prime. Still, the questions about Nagy’s impact are fair - especially when expectations in Kansas City are sky-high every year.
And yet, Reid’s endorsement of Nagy’s head coaching potential was clear and unsolicited.
“I think he deserves to be a head football coach in this league,” Reid said. “That’s exciting for him.”
For now, Nagy isn’t letting the noise distract him. He knows the rumors are part of the business, especially this time of year.
“I really am focused with these guys and want to help these guys out,” Nagy said of his offensive unit. “And then all that stuff will take care of itself at the end here.”
Whether that “end” means a return to Kansas City, a new job elsewhere, or another chapter as a head coach remains to be seen. But one thing’s clear: Matt Nagy’s name is going to be in the mix - and Andy Reid is in his corner.