Things are going to look a little bit different for the Chicago Bears when they play the Detroit Lions next week. Matt Nagy arrived in the division the same year as Matt Patricia. How ironic that both found themselves on the hot seat in their third season. It turns out Patricia wore out his welcome way faster. The Lions decided to fire both him and GM Bob Quinn following a Thanksgiving 41-25 blowout loss to the Houston Texans.
Nagy no doubt contributed to that, owning Patricia in head-to-head matchups 5-0. The last being a furious 4th quarter comeback from down 23-6 to win on opening day. Now Detroit is facing a potential organizational rebuild where nobody appears safe. As for Patricia himself, it’s fair to wonder what his fate will be. Not that any of his former players care.
Seriously. It’s incredible how many openly celebrated when they heard the news.
Former Lions linebacker Stephen Tulloch on the firing of Bob Quinn and Matt Patricia: "The best news I've heard all year. The city of Detroit and its fans deserve SO MUCH BETTER."
— kyle meinke (@kmeinke) November 28, 2020
— Chris Burke (@ChrisBurkeNFL) November 28, 2020
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I was the problem tho😂😂😂 https://t.co/B5GG29ilqt
— Darius Slay (@bigplay24slay) November 28, 2020
Haha told me you’ll take my career away from me but I guess they have other plans for you 😂😂
— AshawnRobinson (@AshawnRobinson) November 28, 2020
You get what you deserve https://t.co/uh2yMBEzlZ
— AshawnRobinson (@AshawnRobinson) November 28, 2020
Welp 🤷🏾♂️
— Ezekiel Ansah (@Ziggy_Ansah) November 28, 2020
about to text bob quinn see if he straight. 😂
— Ebron85 (@Ebron85) November 28, 2020
The bad blood between Patricia and several players was a story simmering beneath the surface for quite some time. Former Pro Bowl cornerback Darius Slay was among the most vocal, stating the head coach and he suffered irreparable damage to their relationship. So he was traded to Philadelphia. It seems he was far from the only noteworthy player Patricia alienated. Never a good sign for a guy who is supposed to be a team leader.
It’s amazing to think it went this poorly. Patricia arrived with stellar credentials in 2018. He’d helped the New England Patriots win two Super Bowls in 2014 and 2016 as their defensive coordinator. The guy seemed like a slam dunk. As always though, it turns out being a great coordinator and great head coach are two very different things.
Will the Bears follow the Detroit Lions down that path?
Funny as it is to watch so many noteworthy players snipe at Patricia, it is fair to wonder. Could Nagy be sharing that same fate soon as well? His own seat is reportedly heating up in recent weeks. Not only has he watched a 5-1 start tumble to 5-5, but his offense also ranks 31st in the NFL. The one that was supposed to finally solve the Bears’ longstanding woe when it comes to scoring points.
It’s felt a loss on Sunday night to Green Bay could really start the ball rolling on him and GM Ryan Pace being fired. Besides, he too has had some former players taking potshots at him as well. Most notably Kyle Long. The ex-guard hasn’t been bashful on Twitter in recent weeks, poking fun at Nagy’s supposed status as an “offensive guru” and his rather childish motivational tactics.
Is it really that bad or is that just sour grapes from Long?
Nobody can say for sure. What is clear is the Bears won’t have to wait too much longer to get a taste of the new Detroit Lions. After their game in Green Bay, the two teams will lock up next week at Soldier Field. How ironic would it be if Nagy suffered his first loss to them the moment Patricia left town?