Farewell: Matt Nagy, Why Seeker

Next career move? Why not? [Photo: YouTube]

Monday, the Bears made official something we’ve all known for quite some time now and fired head coach Matt Nagy. Nagy’s tenure started off great, with the Bears going 12-4 in 2018 and Mitchell Trubisky making the Pro Bowl. That success earned Nagy Coach of the Year honors. That was the season that ended with yep, you guessed it, and it’s been all downhill since that moment.

2019 was a massive disappointment given that team’s potential. Trubisky took a step back and a season that should’ve seen the Bears as serious contenders instead ended at 8-8 and without a playoff berth.

8-8 was good enough to sneak in as the first 7-seed as Nagy and company navigated the mess that was 2020. Trubisky again failed to progress, and was allowed to walk after the season. He ended up as Josh Allen’s backup for not much money and, at that point, it was defensible to give Nagy one more shot, but with his own QB.

After signing Andy Dalton and drafting Justin Fields, Nagy failed to truly commit to either route, the offense was still remedial nonsense, and it became clear that Mitch was not the only problem. To be clear, he was a problem. That nobody else in the league wanted him says something. Anyway, yeah, Nagy. Look, this firing brings me no joy beyond the prospect of better football in 2022. The Trestman firing was practically a Chicagoland holiday. And while I appreciated John Fox cleaning up the mess in the locker room that Glasses McGee left, it was very clear that by the end of his run, he was just mailing it in. Nagy cared. His players always cared, save for one notable number 12-wearing exception. Nagy’s the exact kind of guy you want to root for. He just wasn’t good, though, and that’s what matters here. But while I am delighted to no longer have to hear about a perpetual fruitless search for the why, I’m sorry this didn’t work out.

Who replaces him? Dunno. There haven’t been any names that jumped out as major contenders the way Nagy and John DeFilippo did last time around. Until we have more clarity about the GM position, I don’t have a real guess. If Pace stays in some capacity, I’d bet he tries to get Sean Payton. I’d also bet it won’t work. Jim Harbaugh checks every box ownership could want, but would almost certainly want more control over the roster than the Bears are normally willing to give. On top of that, he’d have to want to leave Michigan. There’s a chance, but I don’t think it’s a good one. Dan Quinn was almost named the coach in 2015, but then John Fox became available and ownership just couldn’t pass up the prospect of the established name. In a bit of irony, Quinn has been connected to the Denver job. Doug Pederson runs a version of the Andy Reid offense that actually works, so transition costs would be low if the Bears decided to go that route. Leslie Frazier’s name has been bandied about. I could get on board with the right OC involved (read: Joe Brady). If Ron Rivera has had enough of the raging tire fire that is the Washington Whatever organization, I’d bet a dollar the Bears put on the full-court press to get him. Ryan Day’s name has been mentioned, for obvious reasons, but the extent of his NFL experience consists of two years as Chip Kelly’s QB coach, one in Philly, the other in San Francisco. If you’re the kind of degenerate who bets on this sort of thing and wants my advice, Rivera, I guess? Also, please get help.

Twitter: @KSchroeder_312

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