What Matt Nagy’s promotion to OC means for the Chiefs
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Kansas City Chiefs went again to the longer term with their promotion of Matt Nagy as offensive coordinator. The staff introduced the transfer on Friday, one week after former offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy’s departure. Bieniemy was the offensive coordinator for the previous 5 seasons earlier than taking the same place with the Washington Commanders.
Nagy, 44, was the Chiefs’ offensive coordinator for head coach Andy Reid in 2016 and 2017, their final two seasons with Alex Smith as their beginning quarterback. The Chiefs had been twentieth within the league in yards and thirteenth in scoring in 2016 however made a leap the subsequent season to fifth in yards and sixth in scoring.
Nagy then left for 4 seasons to be the top coach for the Chicago Bears from 2018 to 2021. He returned to the Chiefs final yr as quarterbacks coach and senior offensive assistant.
What does this imply for quarterback Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs?
In a phrase: stability. Nagy coached underneath Reid for 3 seasons with the Philadelphia Eagles after which got here to the Chiefs as quarterbacks coach when Reid arrived in 2013.
That continuity is vital for Mahomes, who prior to now yr has seen the departure of Bieniemy, former Chiefs quarterbacks coach Mike Kafka and long-time backup quarterback Chad Henne, who retired after Super Bowl LVII. Henne was a significant affect for Mahomes, significantly early in his profession. The Chiefs on the time wished a veteran quarterback to assist function a mentor for Mahomes.
Reid stated final yr that continuity was one of many causes he was desperate to get Nagy again on the Chiefs’ workers and dealing with Mahomes. Mahomes was a rookie backup in 2017 when Nagy was the Chiefs’ offensive coordinator.
Why did the Chiefs select Nagy?
In addition to workers stability, Reid has lengthy thought extremely of Nagy. While Nagy was teaching in highschool in Pennsylvania, he was a coaching camp intern for the Eagles for 2 years earlier than Reid introduced him onto his workers full time.
Reid a few years in the past considered Nagy as a possible head coach. When Nagy was promoted to Chiefs offensive coordinator, Reid was so certain Nagy would turn out to be a head coach in little time that he instantly began grooming Bieniemy, then the working backs coach, to be his eventual substitute.
Beyond that, the Chiefs had been profitable with Nagy as an assistant coach. They made the playoffs in 4 of Nagy’s 5 seasons in Kansas City throughout his first go-round after which final yr received Super Bowl LVII in his first season again.
How will Nagy’s offense be totally different than Bieniemy’s?
Expect any change to be delicate. As lengthy as Reid stays head coach, he could have appreciable affect over the offense and the path it heads.
The Chiefs had been ninth within the NFL in speeding in 2017, Nagy’s final season as offensive coordinator earlier than leaving for the Bears. They have not been above sixteenth since, however that has much less to do with Nagy’s departure and extra to do with the very fact they put in Mahomes as their quarterback simply as Nagy was leaving. They will not flip right into a predominantly speeding staff so long as Mahomes is their quarterback.
Bieniemy had his personal manner of doing issues, together with an in-your-face type and an consideration to element that wore on some gamers. But they nearly all the time responded.
Nagy has a extra restrained method. It stays to be seen how the Chiefs will reply.