Tag: matt nagy

Chiefs coach Matt Nagy loves having Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce be ‘a part of the family’

“We love having her a part of the family and the team.”

Aw, this is sweet.

Kansas City Chiefs offensive coordinator Matt Nagy is like every other member of the team from coach to player (Patrick Mahomes!) who has welcomed Taylor Swift with open arms.

While speaking with KCTV5, Nagy had wonderful things to say about Kelce and Mahomes as people beyond the football field, and even though he never met Swift, he was effusive.

“We love having her a part of the family and the team,” he said. “What she and Kelc have done, it’s a cool story. It’s a credit to both of them to be such two big, powerful people that are so humble in what they do and they’re so talented in what they do.”

Lovely!

How Patrick Mahomes, Matt Nagy make the Bears look bad

Both Matt Nagy and Patrick Mahomes both make the Chicago Bears look bad for the way things went down in recent years.

A lot of people have made the Chicago Bears look bad, mostly themselves. They have been one of the worst franchises in the NFL this century. They hardly go to the playoffs and they continue to lose to the Green Bay Packers regularly. The hope is that they come out of it with this current regime in charge but still have much work to do.

The San Francisco 49ers and Kansas City Chiefs faced off in Super Bowl LVIII on Sunday night. For a lot of the game, the 49ers played very well and looked like they were going to win. That was until the very end when Patrick Mahomes and his crew took victory from the hands of defeat.

Mahomes drove the Chiefs down the field to tie the game late and to win it in overtime. It was a legendary moment for him as he won a second straight Super Bowl and his third in five seasons. It has been an incredible run for the now three-time Super Bowl MVP.

This is a player that makes the Bears look terrible. In possibly the worst draft evaluation in the history of the NFL, the Bears took North Carolina quarterback Mitchell Trubisky with the second overall pick (that they traded up one spot for) in the 2017 NFL draft. With the 10th overall pick, the Kansas City Chiefs traded up to land Texas Tech quarterback Patrick Mahomes.

Trubisky is one of the biggest busts in franchise history. He couldn’t do anything to help the Bears offense take a step forward. Their defense was all-world during his tenure with the team, and he won some games as a result, but he was truly terrible.

As for Mahomes, his third Super Bowl victory with the Chiefs on Sunday cemented him as a 28-year-old living legend. He is already one of the greatest quarterbacks in NFL history and his career might not even be halfway over. That is the guy the Bears passed on.

Oh, by the way, his offensive coordinator is former Bears head coach Matt Nagy, who everybody in Chicago blamed for their offensive problems. Nagy certainly had his fair share of mistakes but you don’t win anything if you have a terrible roster, which the Bears did when Nagy was most criticized.

In 2018, Nagy won Coach of the Year and led the team to the playoffs. They fell off a cliff after that, and the poor play of Trubisky was a huge reason. Now, he has a legend in Mahomes running his offense and he is a two-time Super Bowl champion coordinator. Andy Reid is an incredible coach, but don’t be surprised if Nagy takes over when Reid is done and wins big, as well.

Any coordinator or coach will look extra special if they have a quarterback deliver the goods, the way that Mahomes does. Any of them will also look bad if they have a failed quarterback, the way Trubisky was.

Justin Fields has been an improvement over Trubisky, but he doesn’t win nearly as much because the roster around him was way worse. Now, Chicago is expected to move on from Fields before he even gets a crack at a great roster. Meanwhile, Mahomes will be going for Super Bowl championship No. 4 in the wrong uniform next year.

Why 13 (personnel) has become the magic number for the Chiefs’ offense

The Kansas City Chiefs are better in 13 personnel than any other NFL team, and that could be big trouble for the 49ers in Super Bowl LVIII.

When you think of the Kansas City Chiefs’ offense, a “spread-’em-out” ideology may come to mind with multiple receivers, and perhaps Travis Kelce as the only tight end on the field. But that’s not what this offense was in 2022 under offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy, and that’s not what this offense was in 2023, or is in 2024, under offensive coordinator Matt Nagy.

Quite the opposite, and it’s not been gradual, the Chiefs are now the kings of three-tight end sets. 13 personnel, with one back, three tight ends, and one receiver, has become the team’s primary formational constraint. This is clearly something that comes from on high, i.e., Andy Reid.

In the 2022 season, Kansas City led the league in passing out of 13 personnel, and they were ridiculously good at it. Patrick Mahomes had 74 dropbacks out of 13, completing 49 of 64 passes for 716 yards, 326 yards after the catch, nine touchdowns, no interceptions, and a passer rating of 152.1, which was just about dead solid perfect. Mahomes’ EPA throwing out of 13 was 31.95, which was absolutely preposterous — Geno Smith of the Seattle Seahawks ranked second at 12.36,

This season, Mahomes has also led the NFL in 13 personnel throws, though the results haven’t been quite as productive, which is a reflection of the entire Chiefs’ passing game. Mahomes has had 50 dropbacks out of 13, completing 28 of 44 passes for 380 yards, 188 yards after the catch, two touchdowns, two interceptions, a passer rating of 87.3, and an EPA of 1.81.

Where the Chiefs have upped their 13 personnel production this season is in the run game, and especially with second-year back Isiah Pacheco. Pacheco leads the NFL in 13 personnel carries with 53, gaining 226 yards, 140 yards after contact, and scoring one touchdown. Mahomes has also run eight times for 52 yards this season out of 13 personnel, so that’s something the San Francisco 49ers will want to consider in Super Bowl LVIII.

On Wednesday, I talked with Matt Nagy about the three-tight end sets, and why the Chiefs are the runaway leaders with all that. As Nagy said, the fact that they do it so much more than any other NFL teams is its own inherent advantage.

“Number one, we feel that we have a good set of tight ends who can do different things. When you’re in 13 personnel, are they receiving tight ends, or are they blocking tight ends, or are they both? We feel like we have a good mix there. So, it starts with personnel.

“The second part is, because there aren’t a lot of teams that do 13 personnel, a lot of defensive coordinators don’t have a lot of calls for 13 personnel. So, they’ve got kind of a limited menu  So now, you can do some different things. If a team shows a multitude of defenses against 13, we take a look at that and decide whether we want to go with it or not. We’ve been that way for a long time.”

Well, here’s the thing. The 49ers have faced three tight ends on just nine of their opponents’ passing attempts, with five catches allowed for 81 yards, one touchdown, no interceptions, and an opponent passer rating of 122.9.

The touchdown was a 31-yarder against the Seahawks in Week 14. The Seahawks motioned tight end Will Dissly across from left to right out of a wing alignment, and this was an interesting example of another way teams can use four-strong – to gain a favorable matchup for the iso receiver on the other side. With Dissly, Noah Fant, Colby Parkinson, and running back Kenneth Walker to the right, and with Fant and Parkinson then running intermediate crossers back over, DK Metcalf had an open one-on-one with cornerback Ambry Thomas as the backside iso. The 49ers could definitely see something like that on Sunday – also, one of the ways the Chiefs stress defenses with four-strong formations is to wind at least one of their tight ends back to the other side.

In the run game, the 49ers have faced rushing attempts out of 13 personnel just 13 times for 50 yards and a touchdown. The touchdown was a 16-yard Kareem Hunt run against the Cleveland Browns in Week 6. Cleveland motioned tight end Jordan Akins across from right to left, keeping David Njoku and Harrison Bryant on the right side. Receivers Donovan Peoples-Jones and David Bell were the ones who helped crack that run open for a 16-yard touchdown.

Based on what Nagy said regarding what defenses do (or do not do) against the Chiefs’ 13 personnel packages in the pass and run games, we should probably expect to see Kansas City to turn it all the way up to 13 in the Super Bowl.

In this week’s “Xs and Os with Greg Cosell and Doug Farrar,” the guys got into why the Chiefs’ 13 personnel stuff is so effective, and what the 49ers might want to try to work against it.

You can watch the “Xs and Os” Super Bowl Preview episode here:

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You can also listen and subscribe to the “Xs and Os” podcast on Spotify…

…and on Apple Podcasts.

Former Bears coach Matt Nagy still believes Justin Fields trending in right direction

Matt Nagy reiterated his belief in Justin Fields and knows he’ll continue to grow – whether that’s with the Bears or elsewhere.

The Chicago Bears fired head coach Matt Nagy three years ago, but he’ll forever be tied to quarterback Justin Fields, whose own future in Chicago is up-in-the-air.

The Bears traded up to draft Fields with the 11th pick in the 2021 NFL draft with Nagy at the helm. Unfortunately, Nagy failed to put Fields in favorable positions during his rookie season, and the team opted to move on from Nagy and general manager Ryan Pace after the 2021 season.

But it hasn’t gotten much better for Fields, who went from Nagy to Luke Getsy, another offensive coordinator who failed to build around him and instead tried to mold him to fit his scheme.

Now that Chicago has the No. 1 pick in the 2024 NFL draft — and potential generational talent Caleb Williams is available — Fields’ future with the Bears is in doubt.

During Super Bowl Opening Night, Nagy reiterated his belief in Fields and knows he’ll continue to grow — whether that’s in Chicago or elsewhere.

“You have to learn and grow from those experiences, and I think he’s done that,” Nagy said at Super Bowl Opening Night, via the Sun-Times. “Some guys do it faster than others, but I know one thing’s for sure: He’s going the right way with his growth, and that’s important.

“You look at some of the adversity he’s been through — and it’s not easy in Chicago. It’s gonna make him tougher. Whether he stays there or goes somewhere else, I know he’s very resilient, and he’s a great kid.”

General manager Ryan Poles has an important decision to make at quarterback — one that will define his tenure in Chicago. While there’s no denying Fields has made strides and is a playmaker, if Poles deems Williams the kind of generational prospect he can’t pass up, it won’t matter.

Poles will ultimately make the choice he believes is best for the Bears. If that means drafting Williams, there should be plenty of interest around the league for Fields.

Former Chiefs OC Eric Bieniemy will not return to Commanders after one season

Former Kansas City #Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy will not return to Washington #Commanders after one season.

The NFL constantly makes changes this time of year as front offices and coaches shuffle in preparation for the offseason. A recent assistant coaching change may have the attention of the Kansas City Chiefs franchise and the Chiefs Kingdom.

According to a report from ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Washington Commanders are not retaining offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy after one season. The news comes just a day after the franchise surprisingly hired Kilff Kingsbury as their offensive coordinator on Sunday.

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Bieniemy’s offense in his lone season with the Commanders didn’t reach the success he had for five seasons with the Chiefs, finishing with a record of 4-13, missing the playoffs as head coach Ron Rivera was subsequently fired. Commanders’ offense has not finished above 16th in the league rankings since 2016, finishing 18th in passing and 27th in rushing. The Commanders had its ups and downs with starting quarterback Sam Howell as he lacked consistency throughout the season.

The Chiefs notably spoke highly of Bieniemy’s way of holding players accountable during his tenure in Kansas City. During the season, when the team had some discipline issues, quarterback Patrick Mahomes praised their former offensive coordinator as the standard for accountability.

There has been no comment or word about what Bieniemy will do next, but returning to the Chiefs isn’t a long shot. Head coach Andy Reid, in recent years, brought back Matt Nagy as the quarterbacks coach following his dismissal as head coach of the Chicago Bears. Super Bowl LVIII will be watched closely for the team’s effectiveness on offense as the team looks to secure consecutive titles.

Chiefs OC Matt Nagy breaks down WR Rashee Rice’s weekly improvement

Kansas City #Chiefs offensive coordinator Matt Nagy broke down WR Rahee Rice’s improvement during comments to the media this week.

Kansas City Chiefs offensive coordinator Matt Navy has dealt with adversity regarding the sub-par performance of his group. A significant bright spot in his offense has been the emergence of rookie wide receiver Rashee Rice, who is already being targeted heavily on pass plays.

Nagy spoke with reporters on Thursday about his talented rookie and the growth he’s experienced this season.

“It was probably around mid-season. I can’t say an exact time,” Nagy explained. “There were some sprinkled plays where I think you’d see the explosiveness of how he is on a play, and sometimes it’s not always just one or two plays.

“There are five catches that he has for 100 yards; it might be more so of us feeling, Hey, this is clicking with him with the there’s not a lot of mental mistakes. When we get together Monday morning and watch the tape, we’re seeing it’s clean. And so, as a coach, when you have guys that don’t make the same mistake twice. You love that, and that’s what he’s done.”

Rice continues challenging franchise records as a rookie while his targets increase weekly. The trust he’s earned in the offense has gone a long way in helping to right the unit’s ship.

Chiefs OC Matt Nagy praises RB Isiah Pacheco’s positive impact on the team

#Chiefs offensive coordinator Matt Nagy praised running back Isiah Pacheco’s positive impact on the team during comments to the media.

Chiefs offensive coordinator Matt Nagy has faced criticism throughout the season but has emerged with some amazing performances from several players, including running back Isiah Pacheco. During his Thursday press conference, he spoke with reporters about the impact Pacheco has made on the team this season.

“When you look at what ‘Pops’ (Isiah Pacheco) does, I mean, he’s, first of all, the football player, and he’s only going to continue to get better and better. He’s learning himself,” said Nagy. “Sometimes, even patience through the hole, when to hit it with speed, when to be patient, let it develop the tempo of that he’s going to continue to grow. But the one thing he does is go 100 miles per hour 100% of the time.”

Assuming he sits out the final game of the regular season, Pacheco finished his sophomore campaign with 935 rushing yards to lead the team. His intensity and angry runs have become a trademark of his playing, endearing him to his teammates, coaches, and fans.

“We feed off of that he’s a young kid, that’s a great personality, that all he wants to do is win, ” Nagy explained. “Every team usually has one or two guys on the team that’s over the top with the excitement and in a good way, and He’s our guy with that—so having a young guy like that, that brings the juice not just in on game day, but in practice after meetings. He’s always positive, and I just appreciate that about him.”

Nagy’s offense fed off of Pacheco’s fantastic performance last Sunday against the Cincinnati Bengals. The effort is why the Chiefs are AFC West champions for the eighth consecutive season.

Chiefs OC Matt Nagy notes chemistry between Patrick Mahomes, Marquez Valdes-Scantling

#Chiefs OC Matt Nagy told reporters about the chemistry between QB Patrick Mahomes and WR Marquez Valdes-Scantling.

The offensive struggles have headlined the 2023 regular season for the Kansas City Chiefs, but they are still only one victory away from clinching another AFC West division title. Multiple games have been lost due to inefficiency late in games and a lack of production from players who have a history of doing more by this point of the season.

Chiefs offensive coordinator Matt Nagy has been under fire for the unit’s lackluster performance this season. He has remained positive through the criticism of his players, including the often-discussed lack of chemistry between quarterback Patrick Mahomes and veteran wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling. Nagy addressed this topic to the media during his press conference on Thursday before practice.

“You have different receivers at different times, and there’s going to be some throws here or there that you missed, but they’re working through all that,” Nagy explained. “I know you’d love to hear well; it should be fixed by now. But they’re continuing. They’ve had some big moments together, they really have over the past two years, and they’ve had some ones that they missed.

“So what do we do? Well, Why did we miss on a certain throw? And so we continue to work through that. But MVS (Marquez Valdes-Scantling) has had a phenomenal attitude this entire time; Pat (Patrick Mahomes) has been the same way.”

Valdes-Scantling has only 20 catches for 312 yards and one touchdown through 15 games this season, a far cry from being one of the best deep threats in the league last year.

“From my standpoint of what I witnessed with these players right now as we go through this is a lot of great honesty,” Nagy said. “A lot of great accountability, which I’ve been saying, but also positivity of trying to figure out how we fix it and it’s not okay, this isn’t fixable. It’s hard work in trying to do it. Those guys are part of the crew of eleven. Trying to get that fixed and work better, maybe we see more of that coming up.”

Matt Nagy explains how Chiefs are holding players accountable in 2023

Offensive coordinator Matt Nagy explained how the #Chiefs coaching staff is holding players accountable in 2023.

Errors and miscues have cost the Kansas City Chiefs multiple games this season as the team continues to work to tighten things up before the postseason. The word accountability is being thrown around more regarding the coaching staff and their message to players.

Chiefs offensive coordinator Matt Nagy has worked with his offensive unit to fix the problems this season while handling and moving forward from criticism. During Thursday’s press conference, he spoke with reporters about his form of accountability to his players and the coaches at the facility.

“Yeah, there’s discussions in the building. And again, I’m not going to get into how or what I mean,” Nagy explained. “I have so much respect for EB (Eric Bieniemy); he’s one hell of a coach, and so many coaches in this league have different coaching styles of how they handle and how they do things.

“I would just say that our coaches on staff and myself and coach Reid, every player’s different on how they handle being coached. And so there’s a little bit of that, too, with how you handle certain guys; some can handle tough criticism, others can’t. So there’s a feel to it, but in the end, we got to make sure that the product out there is scoring touchdowns and winning football games.”

Patrick Mahomes has preached accountability recently as Wednesday in front of reporters, referring back to his relationship with former Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy. The Chiefs understand how important it is to rebuild continuity heading into another Super Bowl run.

Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes says former OC Eric Bieniemy set the standard for accountability

Kansas City #Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes says former offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy set the standard for accountability.

The Kansas City Chiefs offense has faced many self-inflicted issues this season on offense. The once high-powered unit has looked human for the first time since Patrick Mahomes took over as the starting quarterback.

Mahomes has dealt with penalties, drops, and poor route-running from his offensive playmakers, leading to losses in three out of the last four games. During his Wednesday press conference, the reigning league Most Valuable Player shared his thoughts on the miscues and the team holding each other accountable, a system enforced heavily by his former offensive coordinator, Eric Bieniemy.

“Yeah, I mean, it’s a combination of a lot of guys,” Mahomes explained. “I think Coach Bieniemy set that standard when he was here. And I think you could see those lingering effects of the other coaches who have coached underneath EB (Eric Bieniemy) and then coach Nagy. I mean, I coached with EB, been an offensive coordinator before, and QB coach last year, We hold each other accountable; the coaches hold us accountable. But obviously, we’ve made some mistakes that we don’t typically make, and we’re gonna try to correct those as quickly as possible.”

Bieniemy is in his first season with the Washington Commanders as their offensive coordinator, and he has a well-known reputation for his detailed, no-nonsense approach. Mahomes continues to have the same approach with Matt Nagy as the unit seeks to rebound before the postseason.