KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Less than a week after the offensive coordinator position for the Chiefs became vacant, there’s no surprise the new occupant of the office is a familiar face
The Chiefs on Friday afternoon officially announced the promotion of Matt Nagy to offensive coordinator. To no one’s surprise, he fills the void left earlier this week when Eric Bieniemy officially accepted the offensive coordinator position with Washington.
It’s the second time around for Nagy, who previously held the same position with the Chiefs before leaving in 2018 to become head coach in Chicago. Nagy finished with a 34-31 regular-season record with the Bears including two playoff appeaches in four seasons. Yet a 6-11 campaign in 2021, an 0-2 record in the postseason and struggles at the quarterback position led to his dismissal.
Nagy enjoyed initial success in Chicago, leading the Bears to a 12-4 and an NFC North division title in 2018. Quarterback Mitch Trubisky delivered the best season of his career for Nagy that season. But the offense never ranked higher than No. 21 in the league under Nagy as the team bounced from quarterback to quarterback including Trubisky, Nick Foles, Andy Dalton and Justin Fields.
Nagy returned to Kansas City last season as senior assistant and quarterbacks coach. He spent five seasons with the Chiefs under head coach Andy Reid during his first stint with the club, serving as quarterbacks coach from 2013 to 2015 and sharing the offensive coordinator title with Brad Childress in 2016. He took over the role all to himself the following season as the Chiefs’ offense behind quarterback Alex Smith ranked No. 5 in total yards and No. 6 in scoring.
Nagy shares strong ties with both Reid as well as general manager Brett Veach, who was a college teammate with Nagy for three seasons at Delaware. Both also spent time with Reid in Philadelphia, where Nagy finished his professional career as a player and became a coaching intern. He became a coaches’ assistant in 2010 before earning a promotion to offensive quality control coach the next season. Nagy then followed Reid to Kansas City in 2013..
The promotion of Nagy also opens up a position on the coaching staff for a quarterbacks coach, and there’s the likelihood of additional openings on the assistant level. Running backs coach Greg Lewis reportedly met with Washington for a position on Bieniemy’s staff. There’s the possibility Nagy may consider other changes as well.
The club reportedly interviewed former Houston offensive coordinator Pep Hamilton for the same role in Kansas City, and he’s also served as a quarterbacks coach and receivers coach in the NFL. Assistant quarterbacks coach David Girardi is also a candidate for the promotion.
