Dianna Russini of The Athletic recently provided a reported update on the Tennessee Titans‘ head coaching search. Russini mentioned seven names that may appear on the Titans’ candidates wishlist. The most
notable portion of the article states that Kansas City Chiefs offensive coordinator Matt Nagy is viewed as a serious candidate internally.
Nagy has been frequently connected to the Titans since Brian Callahan’s firing. The reason why is extremely obvious. Nagy and current Titans general manager Mike Borgonzi spent eight campaigns spread across two separate stints with the Chiefs together. If Borgonzi is spearheading the coaching search, it would be understandable if his top candidate is familiar to him.
Chiefs head coach Andy Reid was recently asked about Nagy’s potential candidacy this offseason. Unsurprisingly, Reid strongly endorsed Nagy. “Phenomenal,” Coach Reid responded when asked about the job Nagy has done this season. “We were on a record pace there for a bit, as far as statistically… I think he deserves to be a head football coach in this league.”
The Titans defeated the Chiefs 26-9 in Week 16. Star quarterback Patrick Mahomes was lost to a season-ending torn ACL injury. The 6-9 Chiefs will miss the postseason for the first time since 2014. Placing that blame at Nagy’s feet seems unfair. Nagy never received credit when the Chiefs’ offense was firing on all cylinders. This team belongs to Reid and Mahomes.
Luckily for the Titans, they have an example to draw from. Nagy spent four seasons (2018-21) as the Chicago Bears’ head coach. They went 12-4 in his debut season and Nagy won Coach of the Year. He maximized a bad sophomore quarterback Mitchell Trubisky that season. The Bears never replicated that success under his watch again, and regressed until they fired him.
Borgonzi knows Nagy well. We’ll see if that actually makes Nagy a candidate in Tennessee.
