Tag: Offensive Coordinator

Chiefs OC Matt Nagy trusts Patrick Mahomes’ injury judgement: ‘Be honest with us’

Kansas City #Chiefs offensive coordinator Matt Nagy trusts Patrick Mahomes’ injury judgement: ‘Be honest with us’ | @EdEastonJr

The Kansas City Chiefs enter their last home game of the regular season with significant concerns about the health of their star quarterback, Patrick Mahomes. He continues to practice with a high ankle sprain, and his availability remains uncertain.

Chiefs offensive coordinator Matt Nagy spoke to reporters on Wednesday about Mahomes’ injury and whether the reigning Super Bowl MVP will be honest about potentially being unable to play on Saturday.

“Just for him (Patrick Mahomes) to be able to be honest with us as he goes through this. It’s all part of the game (and) we know he’s a tough kid, so we understand that, but at the same point in time, you want to be smart,” said Nagy. “I think, you know – we know our schedule this week and (it’s) a little bit of a shorter week, so there’s a balance there to that, but so far, I think his  mindset is to do everything (that) he can, but at the same time, you still have to be able to see how he does throughout the week.”

Carson Wentz continues taking additional practice reps to prepare for a possible starting role against the Houston Texans. Head Coach Andy Reid and Nagy will have to make the tough choice of who to have under center on game day.

Report: Former Wisconsin offensive coordinator Phil Longo lands FBS head coaching job

Wisconsin’s former offensive coordinator has a new job. An FBS head coaching job:

Sam Houston State is hiring former Wisconsin offensive coordinator Phil Longo as its next coach, according to Texas football’s Mike Craven.

Longo served as the Bearkats’ offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach from 2014-16. His success there helped him land the coordinator position at Ole Miss (2017-18), which led him to Luke Fickell’s staff at Wisconsin.

The Badgers fired the veteran offensive coordinator in mid-November after the team’s 16-13 home loss to No. 1 Oregon. His unit ranked 91st in the nation in total offense (363.1 yards per game) and 98th in scoring offense (23.9 points) through the first 12 weeks of the season. Those marks followed disappointing 2023 production — No. 71 in total offense (381.2 yards) and No. 93 in scoring offense (23.5 points).

Longo’s air raid system was a poor fit with the program. While injuries to the team’s two starting quarterbacks (Tanner Mordecai and Tyler Van Dyke) hurt the unit’s chances, it never reached the expectations accompanying his hire. Its struggles were only magnified by his scheme’s departure from Wisconsin’s classic approach. Several convergent factors led to the in-season change.

Longo returns to a Sam Houston State program that moved to the Football Bowl Subdivision level in 2023, joining Conference USA. The Bearkats went 3-9 in 2023 before a breakout 9-3 campaign in 2024. Coach K.C. Keeler took the job at Temple after the 2024 regular season, creating the vacancy.

Longo reportedly will fill that void. It will be his first top coaching stint since he went 7-14 in two years at La Salle (2004-05).

Wisconsin hired Kansas’ Jeff Grimes to replace Longo at offensive coordinator. The veteran coordinator is returning the Badgers to an older pro-style approach, one that better fits the program’s traditional model of success.

Contact/Follow @TheBadgersWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin Badgers news, notes and opinion.

Chiefs OC Matt Nagy discusses Patrick Mahomes’ problem-solving skills: ‘We have to react’

Kansas City #Chiefs offensive coordinator Matt Nagy discusses Patrick Mahomes’ problem-solving skills: ‘We have to react’ | @EdEastonJr

Kansas City Chiefs offensive coordinator Matt Nagy shared his thoughts on Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce’s game-sealing connection to win last Sunday night. It also addressed Mahomes’ ability to problem-solve during a play.

“You feel good about it because he has a history of doing those things in his career in big-time moments,” said Nagy. “That’s the other thing is; it’s usually not when you’re down 20 when he makes a play like that. It’s usually a critical moment that he makes that play; that’s who he is. We want to feel good when we put in a play, and do we like it? On top of that, when do we call that play? If we all feel good as players and coaches, we have to react to whatever they do.”

Mahomes found Kelce for the first down in a broken play to set up the eventual game-winning field goal attempt with no time on the clock.

“In that case, they dropped eight and played zone difficult for that play we called, but it still worked. And so if you’re a defensive coordinator and you see that, I’m sure there’s some frustration, but that’s Travis Kelce and Patrick Mahomes making a play in a big moment to win us a game,” said Nagy. “For us as coaches, there’s a balance, and there’s also a trust in them knowing that if that throw wasn’t there to Travis, We feel good that Pat’s going to make the right decision and not make a poor decision, and that’s important.”

Mahomes has made many highlight improvised plays, relying on Kelce’s instincts to create these moments. The duo will forever be linked in league history for their efficiency and longevity in winning big games.

Wisconsin offers, lands visit with San Diego State transfer quarterback

Wisconsin offers, lands visit with San Diego State transfer quarterback

Wisconsin has an official visit scheduled with San Diego State transfer quarterback Danny O’Neil, according to On3’s Steve Wiltfong.

This report follows O’Neil entering the portal earlier Thursday. He is the first quarterback on Wisconsin’s reported list of transfer offers and visits. Wiltfong reports the freshman transfer will visit the Badgers this weekend.

Related: Tracking Wisconsin football’s transfer portal offers, interests and commitments

O’Neil entered the transfer portal after one season at San Diego State. He started as a true freshman, completing 63.3% of his passes for 2,181 yards, 12 touchdowns and six interceptions.

Head coach Sean Lewis’ Aztecs went 3-9 in 2024 with O’Neil at the helm and finished with the nation’s No. 117-ranked scoring offense. That may be due more to O’Neil’s circumstances than to his specific play.

The promising freshman is in the portal with three years of eligibility remaining.

O’Neil has yet to receive a transfer ranking by 247Sports. He’d bring a combination of youth and promise to Wisconsin’s quarterbacks room as new coordinator Jeff Grimes works to rebuild the offense.

While Wisconsin may be better served finding a veteran to bridge the gap until top signee Carter Smith is ready to start, O’Neil is a rare underclassman transfer to also have starting experience at the position.

Wisconsin is in the quarterback market after the recent departures of Tyler Van Dyke and Braedyn Locke to the transfer portal. Many of the dominoes at the position are falling rather quickly, so the Badgers already locking in an offer and visit with O’Neil makes him a top target to watch.

Contact/Follow @TheBadgersWire on X (formerly Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin Badgers news, notes, and opinion.

Report: Wisconsin officially hires Jeff Grimes to fill offensive coordinator vacancy

Report: Wisconsin, Jeff Grimes in agreement on deal as Badgers’ new offensive coordinator

Wisconsin is officially in agreement to hire Kansas’ Jeff Grimes as its new offensive coordinator, according to ESPN’s Adam Rittenberg.

The Badgers were first reported to be pursuing Grimes on Friday. Just one day later, the deal appears to have been finalized. The specific terms are yet to be announced.

Related: Ranking Wisconsin football’s updated transfer portal needs after a busy first week of movement

Grimes is set to fill a position that became vacant when Wisconsin fired Phil Longo in mid-November. Luke Fickell and the Badgers closed the season with a coordinator-by-committee approach, which was a sub-story to closing losses to rivals Nebraska and Minnesota.

The veteran coordinator is making a lateral move to Wisconsin after spending one year as Kansas’ offensive coordinator. He’s previously held the same position at Baylor (2021-23) and BYU (2018-20). Prior, Grimes was an offensive line coach for numerous top programs, highlighted by time at LSU (2014-17), Virginia Tech (2013) and Auburn (2009-12).

There is still no official word from the Wisconsin program. But Rittenberg’s report, paired with Kansas hiring a new coordinator, enforces its reality.

Grimes will be tasked with fixing a Wisconsin offense that averaged just 22.6 points per game in 2024 (No. 108 in the nation) and 23.5 points per game (No. 93) in 2023. He figures to bring a more classic old-school Wisconsin approach, a departure from the previous two years of Phil Longo’s air raid system.

The next step for the veteran coordinator is recrafting the team’s quarterback room. Kansas star QB Jalon Daniels is staying put with the Jayhawks, so the Badgers may be forced into the larger transfer market. Veteran Tyler Van Dyke may return, though questions surround his health after a September ACL injury.

Grimes’ job will be critical to Luke Fickell’s tenure as he works to improve the team from its 12-13 combined record over the last two seasons.

Contact/Follow @TheBadgersWire on X (formerly Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin Badgers news, notes, and opinion.

Kansas star quarterback will not be following Jeff Grimes to Wisconsin

Kansas star quarterback will not be following Jeff Grimes to Wisconsin

Wisconsin is reportedly closing in on hiring Kansas’ Jeff Grimes as its new offensive coordinator. All signs point toward the hire becoming a reality, signs such as Kansas hiring Grimes’ replacement.

The next storyline to follow is what the program does at quarterback. Veteran Tyler Van Dyke’s return is up in the air as he recovers from a torn ACL suffered in mid-September. It’s likely that Wisconsin will enter the third consecutive season with a new veteran transfer under center.

Related: Ranking Wisconsin football’s updated transfer portal needs after a busy first week of movement

That veteran will not be Kansas star quarterback Jalon Daniels, who recently announced on X his intention to return to the Jayhawks for his final season of eligibility.

“Kansas has been my home, my family, and my foundation,” Daniels wrote. “The work continues, and the best is still ahead. I’m ready to lead the Kansas Jayhawks into the 2025 season and fully focused on becoming the best QB possible.”

The update is noteworthy given the mentioned context. Wisconsin likely needs a quarterback, and just hired Daniels’ offensive coordinator to the same position. Kansas, meanwhile, promoted quarterbacks coach Jim Zebrowski to its vacant OC position.

Thamel specifically reported that ‘Daniels has agreed to a new deal to stay with the Jayhawks for 2025.’ NIL can be added to the coaching continuity as reasons for his decision to remain with the Jayhawks.

Daniels has played in 37 career games for Kansas dating back to 2020. He’s completed 61.3% of his passes for totals of 6,751 yards, 45 touchdowns and 24 interceptions, in addition to 303 carries for 1,041 rushing yards and 19 rushing touchdowns.

The dual-threat quarterback had his best season in 2022 under former OC Andy Kotelnicki, who has since moved over to Penn State. He finished that year with a 66.1 completion percentage, 2,014 passing yards, 18 touchdowns and four interceptions.

His one year under Grimes (2024) was a minor step back. The veteran completed just 57% of his passes for 2,454 yards, 14 touchdowns and a league-leading 12 interceptions.

Grimes will not get a further chance to help Daniels back to his top-end 2022 form, as Wisconsin will have to look elsewhere for its starting quarterback in 2025.

Contact/Follow @TheBadgersWire on X (formerly Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin Badgers news, notes, and opinion.

Kansas hires replacement for Wisconsin’s reported new offensive coordinator

Kansas hires replacement for Wisconsin’s reported new offensive coordinator

More and more signs point toward Wisconsin officially hiring Kansas’ Jeff Grimes for its vacant offensive coordinator position.

First, ESPN’s Pete Thamel reported on Friday that Wisconsin was ‘targeting’ Grimes, with talks ‘expected to intensify in the near future.’ Now, Kansas has officially promoted quarterbacks coach Jim Zebrowski to its offensive coordinator position, further signaling Grimes’ move to the Badgers.

Related: Ranking Wisconsin football’s updated transfer portal needs after a busy first week of movement

Kansas officially announced Zebrowski’s promotion on Saturday afternoon. He has previously served as the team’s quarterbacks coach from 2021-24, and co-offensive coordinator in 2023 and 2024. He’s previously coached quarterbacks at Southern Illinois (1999), D-III Millikin (2000-02), UW-Whitewater (2007-09), Northern Illinois (2010), Minnesota (2011-15), D-III Hamline (2016) and Buffalo (2017-20).

It was also announced on Friday that Kansas QB Jalon Daniels would remain with the program for his final collegiate season.

Wisconsin has apparently closed in on Grimes as its next offensive coordinator. The veteran assistant was Kansas’ offensive coordinator in 2024, after holding the same position at Baylor (2021-23) and BYU (2018-20). His hire indicates Wisconsin’s movement back to a pro-style, power-run-centric offense, a move that head coach Luke Fickell has hinted toward in recent press conferences.

We now await official word on Wisconsin’s hire of Grimes. After that, it’s all systems go as he works to rebuild a struggling offensive unit.

Contact/Follow @TheBadgersWire on X (formerly Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin Badgers news, notes, and opinion.

Report: Wisconsin closing in on offensive coordinator hire

Report: Wisconsin close to hiring Kansas offensive coordinator as its next OC

Wisconsin is closing in on hiring Kansas offensive coordinator Jeff Grimes as its next OC, according to ESPN’s Pete Thamel.

“A deal is not complete,” Thamel wrote on X. “But the sides are talking and those talks are expected to intensify in the near future.”

Related: Ranking Wisconsin football’s updated transfer portal needs after a busy first week of movement

Wisconsin is looking to fill a position that became vacant when the program fired Phil Longo in November. Grimes is an experienced assistant with extensive roots coaching the offensive line and a power-run scheme.

The veteran assistant has coached offense at the college level since 1998. His notable stops include Arizona State (OL, 2001-03), BYU (OL, 2004-06), Colorado (OL, 2007-08), Auburn (OL, 2009-12), Virginia Tech (OL, 2013), LSU (OL, 2014-17), BYU (OC, 2018-20), Baylor (OC/TEs coach, 2021-23), Kansas (OC, 2024).

He does not have any prior connection to either Luke Fickell or the Wisconsin program — aside from coaching the BYU team that upset the Badgers in 2018.

Grimes’ Kansas offense finished the 2024 regular season ranked No. 53 in scoring offense (29.7 points per game), No. 13 in rush offense (211.4 yards per game) and No. 88 in pass offense (208.8 yards per game).

His potential hire reflects Luke Fickell’s recent comments about the Badgers returning to a more pro-style offense. At the least, Fickell has expressed a desire to build an offensive identity around the program’s classic calling card — the offensive line and the run game. Grimes fits that mold directly.

He also has extensive experience as an offensive coordinator, though hasn’t risen far since starting as BYU’s OC in 2018. That lack of trajectory could be good news for the Badgers, as Grimes may be more likely to stay around if he finds success. It does also signal the difference between him and some of the other top coordinator candidates.

We now await confirmation on if the reported ‘talks’ reach a deal.

Contact/Follow @TheBadgersWire on X (formerly Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin Badgers news, notes, and opinion.

Saints coach search: Do they meet Ben Johnson’s requirements?

It’s been reported that Lions OC Ben Johnson has two requirements for any head coaching vacancy he’ll consider. Do the Saints qualify?

Ben Johnson is projected to be the leading candidate in the head coaching cycle this year. He’s been a name thrown around for a couple of years, and Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer has reported Johnson’s approach to head coaching vacancies this year.

If Johnson is interviewing, he fully plans on taking the job. This means any team sits down with Johnson has a good chance to land him. In the past, coaches have interviewed just to gather information on the job.

Johnson also a pair of criteria for any vacancy. Do the New Orleans Saints meet those requirements?

Breer reports Johnson is looking for “Organizational alignment — in particular between the GM and the head coach. And then he’ll be looking for recognition from the organization of the things that have gone wrong, and a willingness to fix them.”

Organizational alignment won’t be determined until he gets in the room, and it’s difficult from the outside looking in. As for the second criteria, will New Orleans recognize what went wrong.

There are a couple of ways to look at this. Mickey Loomis has made comments to make you wonder if he actually sees the downfall of the Dennis Allen era or if firing Allen was just something that had to happen.

On the other hand, the Saints fired their head coach in the middle of the year and let go of Pete Carmichael. The last year has been filled with making the necessary moves. This could be a sign to Johnson of the Saints’ ability to recognize and course correct.

[lawrence-auto-related count=5]

Chiefs OC Matt Nagy opens up about the offense’s frustration vs. Raiders: ‘We wanted to be better’

Kansas City #Chiefs offensive coordinator Matt Nagy opens up about the offense’s frustration vs. #Raiders: ‘We wanted to be better’ @EdEastonJr

The Kansas City Chiefs have the best record in the AFC but are far from satisfied with their performance on offense. Offensive Coordinator Matt Nagy addressed Patrick Mahomes’ frustrated appearance during last Friday’s victory over the Las Vegas Raiders at his press conference on Thursday.

“I know there was the question in regard to how he was in the game there in the red zone and on that one play, but that’s never been who Patrick is; it’s truly not; the frustration part is the team aspect of us,” said Nagy. “We were all frustrated; we wanted to be better in that game. You get opportunities to close a game out the last two weeks; as an offense, we’ve had the opportunity to do that, and we haven’t done that.”

The Chiefs offense has shown signs of improvement over the last few weeks, with significant performances from Mahomes, but there are still some holes in the red zone efficiency.

“I think, leading up to that point, that’s where it kind of got to a point whether there’s penalties, whether there’s missed opportunities, whatever it is, all of us together, I think it’s just one of those things that we know we’ve got to be better,” said Nagy “we can be better, we have to be better moving forward here towards the end of the season and into the playoffs.”

Kansas City will host the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday night with a chance to clinch another AFC West division title. An offensive explosion would be ideal to calm the concerns heading into the postseason.