The Philadelphia Eagles continue their search for a new offensive coordinator, and their latest interview brings things full circle. On Wednesday, the team sat down with Kansas City Chiefs offensive coordinator Matt Nagy, a name that should ring a few bells for Eagles fans - and not just because of the infamous “Double Doink” game.
Nagy, 47, is now the fifth confirmed candidate the Eagles have interviewed for the OC position. He joins a list that includes former Giants offensive coordinator Mike Kafka, Falcons offensive coordinator Zac Robinson, former Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel, and former Giants head coach Brian Daboll. McDaniel, however, is no longer in play after accepting the offensive coordinator job with the Chargers.
There are also rumblings that the Eagles are eyeing Colts offensive coordinator Jim Bob Cooter and former Buccaneers OC Josh Grizzard, though it's unclear if formal interviews have taken place with either.
Nagy’s coaching journey is deeply intertwined with the Eagles’ own history. A former University of Delaware quarterback in the late '90s, his top target back then was none other than Brett Veach - now the Chiefs’ general manager and a former assistant under Eagles GM Howie Roseman. That connection only adds another layer to Nagy’s candidacy.
His NFL coaching roots were planted in Philadelphia, where he got his start under Andy Reid as a coaching intern in 2008. He climbed the ranks quickly - coaches’ assistant in 2010, offensive quality control coach in 2011 - before following Reid to Kansas City in 2013. There, Nagy served as quarterbacks coach and eventually offensive coordinator in 2016 and 2017.
The Bears came calling in 2018, hiring Nagy as their head coach. His first season in Chicago was promising - a 12-4 finish and an NFC North title. But that year ended in heartbreak, with a wild-card loss to the Eagles punctuated by Cody Parkey’s infamous missed field goal that bounced off both the upright and the crossbar - the now-legendary “Double Doink.”
That 2018 campaign remains Nagy’s only winning season as a head coach. He was let go after four years and returned to Kansas City, first as senior assistant and quarterbacks coach, and then back to offensive coordinator in 2023. While Andy Reid still calls plays for the Chiefs, the OC title in Philadelphia would come with more responsibility - and more control - making it a step up for Nagy.
He’s also been active on the head coaching interview circuit this cycle, having met with the Cardinals, Ravens, Titans, and Raiders. The Titans have since hired 49ers defensive coordinator Robert Saleh, but the other positions remain open.
In Philly, the OC job is a critical one. Kevin Patullo was dismissed after just one season as both offensive coordinator and play caller.
Whoever steps in will be the fifth OC in six years under Nick Sirianni - and the seventh different play-caller Jalen Hurts has worked with in as many NFL seasons. That kind of turnover can stunt a quarterback's growth, making this hire one of the most important decisions of the offseason.
And then there’s this little nugget from the archives: back in 2009, when the Eagles were prepping for a preseason matchup with the Patriots, Kevin Kolb injured his knee in practice. Andy Reid, looking for a quick fix, tried to activate Nagy - who was just a year removed from playing in the Arena League.
Nagy even took reps in practice alongside Donovan McNabb and A.J. Feeley and held a press conference at Lehigh.
But the NFL shut it down after discovering Nagy was still technically under contract with the now-defunct Arena League. Just like that, his playing comeback ended - and his coaching career resumed.
Now, nearly two decades after his coaching journey began in Philadelphia, Nagy could be in line for a homecoming. And if he lands the job, he won’t just be returning to the city where it all started - he’ll be stepping into one of the most scrutinized and pivotal roles in the NFL.