Coming into the 2021 season, there was a prevailing belief about head coach Matt Nagy. If he wanted to keep his job beyond this year, one of two things had to happen. Either the team needed to win games and make the playoffs again. Or Justin Fields would have to take considerable steps forward in his development. It seemed logical enough. Win games or ensure you know how to develop a potential franchise QB.
It seems that might not be the actual case. Bears insider Adam Jahns of The Athletic had a column discussing the current state of the team. Specifically regarding its young quarterback and the two men at the top. Jahns stated at one point that he isn’t so sure Fields’ improvement will have any true bearing on Nagy’s ultimate fate at the end of the season. Not if the team keeps losing and the offense keeps struggling.
“Nagy and his coaching staff should be excited about Fields’ performance against the 49ers. It should be presented as a sign of progress to ownership. But I have my doubts whether the McCaskey family and president Ted Phillips can separate one player’s development — albeit the most important player on the roster — from wins and losses this season…
…At this point, change in some form feels inevitable. Fields’ arrival and development might not prevent it.”
An interesting statement.
One that makes plenty of sense. Remember that team chairman George McCaskey stated he wanted to see progress from this team going into this year. That was the big reason he kept Nagy and GM Ryan Pace in charge. He believed the team was good enough to take a step forward. Instead, they’re trending in the wrong direction. Not only are they 3-5, but the defense is falling apart and the offense is ranked dead last in the NFL.
Is Fields playing decently as a rookie really enough to justify keeping Nagy around? It doesn’t seem like it. Not when his offense was never good to begin with and the team has steadily regressed under his watch since the end of 2018. There isn’t enough evidence to suggest this head coach is equipped to get the Bears where they want to go.
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Justin Fields must be the focal point of every decision
It will start the moment the regular season ends in January. McCaskey will need to make the call. Most believe Nagy is all but gone and Jahn’s statement further solidifies that. The bigger question mark is Pace. He had the green light to draft Fields and has done his job somewhat better when it comes to finding solid talent over the past couple of years. Is that enough to hide several of his mistakes?
Depends on who you ask. The McCaskeys have long liked Pace. They feel his leadership has helped modernize the organization and he pulled them out of the darkest pits back in the mid-2010s. Still, there are rumblings they may seek a fresh voice at GM. Perhaps by shifting Pace to a higher position in the power structure and filling his current job with somebody else. Somebody who might be able to build around Justin Fields.
These next nine games will determine a lot.
Maybe Nagy pulls a rabbit out of his hat again, overcoming a rough stretch to sneak back into the playoff chase. Given the schedule ahead with teams like Pittsburgh, Baltimore, Green Bay, and Seattle still to play. That doesn’t feel likely. If the Bears fall to a losing record, then it’s becoming a safe assumption that changes are coming.