The New York Giants made waves this offseason with the hiring of Matt Nagy, and the reaction from fans has been, well, less than enthusiastic. After all, this is the same coach who couldn’t quite make it work with Patrick Mahomes in Kansas City-at least not in a way that inspired long-term confidence. So, understandably, there’s some skepticism about what he can do for a developing quarterback in New York.
But not everyone’s hitting the panic button. Giants legend Tiki Barber is actually all-in on the move.
During a recent segment on WFAN, Barber shared that he’s been eyeing Nagy as a potential fit for Big Blue for a while now. In his view, Nagy’s résumé-despite its blemishes-deserves a lot more credit than it's been getting.
Barber’s biggest point? Nagy took the Chicago Bears to a 12-4 record in his first season as head coach.
And he did it with Mitch Trubisky under center. Say what you will about how that team ultimately fared, but coaxing that kind of season out of Trubisky is no small feat.
It’s the kind of accomplishment that suggests Nagy knows how to scheme around a quarterback’s strengths, even if the ceiling isn’t sky-high.
But Barber didn’t stop there. He also pointed to a specific player he believes could thrive under Nagy’s system: tight end Theo Johnson.
Not Jaxson Dart, the young quarterback trying to find his footing. Johnson.
Barber believes Nagy’s offensive approach-particularly how it utilized Travis Kelce in Kansas City-could be a game-changer for the third-year tight end.
Now, let’s pump the brakes just a bit. Johnson isn’t Kelce.
That’s not a knock-it’s just reality. Kelce is a future Hall of Famer, one of the most dominant tight ends the league has ever seen.
Johnson, on the other hand, just wrapped up a season where he barely cleared 500 receiving yards. He’s shown flashes, especially in the red zone thanks to his 6-foot-6, 264-pound frame, but he’s also struggled with drops and consistency.
Still, there’s potential here. Johnson has built some chemistry with Dart, and his physical tools make him a matchup problem when he’s on. If Nagy can tap into that-if he can scheme Johnson into open space the way the Chiefs did with Kelce-then there’s a real chance we see a breakout season.
Of course, Johnson’s role in the offense isn’t guaranteed. With Malik Nabers and Cam Skattebo returning next season, targets will be harder to come by.
And there’s always the possibility the Giants bring in a veteran tight end to push Johnson in camp. But at just 25 years old, he’s still got time to grow into something more.
Tiki Barber’s endorsement of Nagy might not win over every fan, but it’s rooted in football logic. If Nagy can replicate even a fraction of the success he had early on in Chicago-and if he can elevate players like Johnson along the way-then maybe, just maybe, this hire won’t look so questionable in hindsight.
Time will tell. For now, the Giants are betting on a coach with something to prove and a tight end with untapped upside. It’s not the most conventional formula, but sometimes, that’s exactly what leads to a breakthrough.