Look everybody knows the best move Matt Nagy made as head coach in 2018 was convincing Vic Fangio to return. He knew the respect the defensive coordinator garnered was well-deserved. He also had no qualms about giving the man full autonomy of the defense, allowing him to focus on fixing the offense. Together he felt the two could make magic.
Nagy was as good as his word. The offense improved and Fangio turned the defense from good to great with another influx of talent. The Bears are 11-4, division champions and guaranteed to host a playoff game for the first time since 2010. Fangio figures to garner legitimate head coaching opportunities.
However, to say that he’s the biggest “score” Nagy made as an assistant hire would be wrong. Bringing him back wasn’t exactly a hard evaluation. All the head coach had to do was make a good pitch. No, the best move he made during the offseason was luring somebody else away from a kushy elsewhere.
A man who has worked magic for this team since he arrived.
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Chicago Bears OL has allowed the fewest total pressures in the NFL this season (107).
That's a full 100 fewer than the Arizona Cardinals.
— Sam Monson (@PFF_Sam) December 28, 2018
Matt Nagy landing Harry Hiestand is the steal of 2018
Harry Hiestand is widely viewed as one of the best offensive line coaches in football. His work for Notre Dame the past several years has been master class, producing multiple 1st round picks in the NFL draft. That includes Pro Bowlers Zack Martin and Quenton Nelson. It was felt he could do great things for the Bears offensive line, helping Nagy’s offense to get off the ground.
All things considered? He’s been absolutely brilliant. Despite inheriting almost the exact same personnel from 2017, the improvement has been staggering. Last year through Week 16, the Bears front five gave up 143 pressures on the quarterback. That’s 36 more than what they’ve allowed along that same timeframe in 2018.
Not only that but both Charles Leno Jr. and Cody Whitehair are Pro Bowl alternates while rookie James Daniels has yet to allow a sack this season since taking over as the starting left guard. Keep in mind he’s 21-years old. Mitch Trubisky has been the biggest beneficiary of Hiestand’s presence.
The young quarterback has thrown 24 touchdowns this year and over 3,000 yards passing. He’s only the third QB in Bears history to accomplish that feat, joining Jay Cutler and Erik Kramer. Fangio deserves tons of love, but Nagy’s biggest scoop by far was luring Hiestand away from South Bend.
