Something weird is going on. The Chicago Bears are making decisions at quarterback. At first glance what appear to be smart decisions. Not something that has been a thing with this regime. GM Ryan Pace couldn’t have lesser credibility at this point if he tried. All anybody knows him for these days is the guy who passed up Patrick Mahomes and Deshaun Watson. Why should they feel he is prepared to correct that mistake this offseason? The answer might be the presence of Matt Nagy.
People can question his aptitude for calling offenses on gameday. When it comes to identifying what a good quarterback looks like? He should have that on lock. He played the position for a long time in college and the Arena League. He’s coached it now for over a decade. Among the names he’s worked with include Donovan McNabb, Michael Vick, Alex Smith, and Patrick Mahomes.
Is it so crazy to think the man might know where to steer the Bears in this storm? There is already mounting evidence to suggest this is the case.
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Matt Nagy has shifted the Bears’ focus ever since he arrived
Evidence #1 – Gardner Minshew interest in 2019
One thing that has started to become apparent with the Bears is how their QB evaluations have shifted. It’s become less about the pure physical talent of the prospect and more about what is between the ears. Is he a leader? Can he process defenses? How good is the field vision? A perfect example of this is Minshew.
The quarterback revealed back in 2019 that two teams showed the most interest in him coming out of Washington State. One being Jacksonville, the team who drafted him, and the other was Chicago. Nagy reportedly liked him a lot. Minshew went on to start 12 games as a rookie that year, throwing 22 touchdowns to just six interceptions.
Evidence #2 – Push for Tom Brady last year
People assumed that Nick Foles was the Bears’ primary QB target from the start because they traded for him. In reality, he was their fallback option the entire time. The guy they wanted was Tom Brady. Longtime analyst Dan Patrick revealed on his radio program last year that Chicago was definitely interested in the all-time great. Brady though preferred a warm-weather location, so they were forced to move on.
That priority seems to have been the right call. Brady went to another Pro Bowl and ended up leading the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to a Super Bowl championship. Proving again that nobody gets to decide when his career is over. The Foles decision came as a result of other options the Bears wanted not coming to fruition.
Evidence #3 – Sidestepping Carson Wentz
It’s hard not to feel the Matt Nagy influence here. If Pace were running the show himself, there are strong odds the Bears would’ve traded for the former Philadelphia Eagles quarterback. Instead, Wentz ended up going to Indianapolis. This despite rampant rumors that Chicago was the favorite to land him and had made the best offer on the table.
In reality? Insiders revealed shortly after the trade took place that the Bears never made an offer at all. They had some interest but not nearly as much as reported. Given the type of game Wentz plays, this shouldn’t have been a surprise. Processing the field quickly? A relentless work ethic? A great leader of men? None of these things are considered strengths Wentz has.
There is no telling where the Bears will ultimately end up on this quarterback spin cycle. One thing is apparent though. Nagy has adjusted the parameters of their search. Talent is important, sure. It’s just that the mental side of the game holds the highest priority with him. This might make it easier to determine where they might go.