We heard previously that Matt Nagy should be in the mix for head coaching vacancies this offseason, and the Chiefs offensive coordinator is now being connected to definitive gigs. According to Dianna Russini of The Athletic, the Saints are expected to show interest in the veteran coach.
[RELATED: Chiefs OC Matt Nagy Could Be 2025 HC Candidate]
After starting his coaching career with the Eagles, Nagy made a name for himself while guiding the Alex Smith iteration of Kansas City’s offense. Nagy ended up spending two years as the Chiefs offensive coordinator (plus an additional three as QBs coach) before getting a shot at the top job in Chicago.
Nagy hit the ground running during his first year as the Bears head coach in 2018, helping guide the squad to a 12-4 record before losing to the Eagles by one point in the Wild Card Round. The coach followed that up with two-straight underwhelming 8-8 showings, and the Bears had another one-and-done playoff appearance during the 2020 postseason. The team somewhat bottomed out in 2021, with the Bears finishing 6-11. That performance ended up spelling the end of Nagy’s tenure in Chicago, as the coach was fired following that campaign.
After being let go by the Bears, Nagy returned to Kansas City. He initially served as Patrick Mahomes QBs coach in 2022, and he was promoted back to offensive coordinator after Eric Bieniemy left for Washington ahead of the 2023 season. Nagy hasn’t been responsible for calling plays during his time in Kansas City, a factor that could work against him as he searches for another HC gig.
The Saints fired Dennis Allen back in November and promoted Darren Rizzi to interim head coach. Per Russini, Rizzi is also expected to get a shot at the full-time job, and even if the team goes in another direction, the coach is expected to stick around New Orleans in some capacity. Rizzi has served as the team’s special teams coordinator since 2019. Russini also mentions Mike McCarthy as a potential candidate for the Saints job if the coach isn’t retained by the Cowboys.
Jets and Saints seem to be trolling the “B” and possibly “D” list of prospective coaches.
Outside of Ben Johnson and Kliff Kingsbury, who else is an offensive minded HC?
Bears fan here, please don’t ever refer to Nagy as an offensive mind.
Nagy was HC of the year, and took a very raw Mitch Trubisky to the pro bowl. Also won 2 SBs with KC. After the trainwreck of Eberflus, hard to knock on Nagy.
A train wreck and a car wreck are both wrecks lol. Just different sizes
Nagy was 34-33 as a NFL HC, including 2 trips to the post-season. How does that qualify for any wreck? Meanwhile, Eberflus is 13-32.
Because 12 of those wins came in his 1st season n. He was 22-29 the other 3 seasons
That still isn’t a trainwreck, car wreck, or any kind of wreck. He had rookies Mitch Trubisky and Justin Fields as his QBs. Not a bad record at all. I’m not saying Nagy must get hired, but if you’re looking for an offensive minded HC, he has a pretty good resume working with Reid and Mahommes, 2 SBs and his prior HC experience. But hey, Bears could’ve made a run at Jim H or Sean P but nah, why bother with the best HCs that build successful programs.
Plus3… Matt Nagy won coach of the year in 2018 for one reason and one reason only- Vic Fangio. Over the previous 2 seasons Fangio turned an average defense into a top 5-10 unit that created the most turnovers in the NFL. That offense began drives at midfield more than the 20… When Fangio left, it was over… and btw… Who couldn’t win with Mahomes as QB? He’s proven nothing.
Nagy managed to get two playoff seasons out of a team with Trubisky as QB. They were a double doink FG away from beating the Eagles. It’s crazy how Bears fans can hate on Nagy and act like they know what a good offensive team is like when the last time they had a Great QB was so long ago Stalin was still alive.
Long time Bears and Chicago sports fan. Nagy benefited from having an experienced DC Vic Fangio his 1st season 2018. Along with a decent defense. However, Nagy was also plagued by the the lack of an offensive line. Same deal today. His main failure as an offense play caller/archtect was he failed to use and adapt to the talent he had on the Bears. He tried to run and design an offense but lacked the play makers to be successful. He was either to stubborn or unqualified to modify to the talent had. Not to mention as the failures mounted, the Chicago media started to run him through the meat grinder. But hey, why not talk to him if the Saint s are interested. Maybe he learned from his earlier mistakes.
All good points Fred. Surrounding yourself with qualified coordinators is what smart coaches do. I’m not saying Nagy is a slam dunk hire but to classify him as a bum like some Bears fans do is off base. I would wager that he’s more prepared this time around
I think this is the best take, Fred. And these continuous issues regardless of the coach show an organizational failure more so than a coaching one.
Suddenly Dennis Allen is looking a whole lot better now, huh?
Dunno how. Allen is a terrible head coach. At least Nagy has experienced a modicum of success.
I feel for all Saints fans if you’re management decides to hire Nagy.
He definitely isn’t my first, second, or third choice for the job. His resume isn’t the worst, but the success he has had largely feels like a product of being in KC; very similar to McDaniels was with New England.
Nagy is not a Bieniemy or McDaniels situation where he is only a product of his situation. Nagy has had success as a Head coach. Winning 12 games in Chicago with Trubisky is an accomplishment. Nagy getting a second chance is a better idea than someone hiring Rex Ryan for a 3rd time
Spooky, I realize that 12 win season isn’t nothing. The Bears also had the benefit of playing a last place schedule in 2⁰18, in a weak division, with a solid defense; that helps. Subtract that, and he is a below .500 coach that didn’t show much on his side of the ball. That’s a big thing for me looking at coaches. If an offensive guy has a bad defense, I’ll overlook it to a degree, and same with a defensive coach and the offense. Got to have your side figured out though.
For the record Nagy had with rookie QBs Trubisky and Fields, that isn’t bad at all. Trubisky barely started any college games and was totally lost on the field the 1st half of his rookie year. Fields showed he was never going to be an NFL starter. Imagine pairing Nagy with experienced QBs Carr in NO or Lawrence in JAX?
Whatever success Nagy had in Chicago was due to Vic Fangio’s defense.
Jon Gruden is NO next HC.
Chucky will probably make Donald Hollis his starting QB too 🙂
No, please no
He is nothing without Andy and Patrick.
The Rizz can interview all he wants, there is zero chance anyone hires him as a HC. He had an audition and looked completely overwhelmed by clock management, personnel decisions and everything that comes along with being the man in charge.
All of this is my opinion, and I’m far from being 100% correct, but he’s probably the type of coach the Saints are going to have to look at. Ive been following the Saints since 1972, and they won’t pay top dollar, but Ms. Benson will be patient and generally stay out of the way and let the football people handle the football decisions. The next HC of the Saints is going to benefit from a last place schedule but had better be someone who can 1) walk the team thru a rebuild 2) understand that Loomis/front office has used some kind of voodoo economics in assembly of the roster and 3) be able to put together a staff that can develop players and make in-game adjustments and 4) be patient. I know there are only 32 NFL HC jobs, but this team is old, salary cap hamstrung, and the young players they do have haven’t been developed well enough to be give them proper depth. It’s not going to be a pretty situation.