A Play-Calling Change Needed To Be Made

On Friday, it was announced that Chicago Bears head coach Matt Nagy has given play-calling duties to offensive coordinator Bill Lazor. The change in play-calling responsibilities was something that many fans and those in the media wanted but never expected to happen. The Bears’ offense has been one of the worst offenses in the league this season, a change was needed, and Nagy deserves credit for allowing that change to be made.

#Bears coach Matt Nagy tells reporters that he’s giving up play-calling and OC Bill Lazor will do it on Monday.

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) November 13, 2020

As much as the change needed to be made, it is still a difficult one for a coach who was hired due to his offensive background to admit failure by allowing the transition to take place. When general manager Ryan Pace hired Nagy in January of 2018, many felt that the Bears got the best young offensive mind available. Two and half seasons later, the Bears offense has regressed rather than progressed.

1. Matt Nagy was supposed to be a QB whisperer for the #Bears. It's one of the main reasons Ryan Pace hired him.

QBs under Nagy – 87.69 passer rating
QBs under John Fox – 83.67 passer rating

Remember Nagy has had a non-rookie former #2 pick and ex-Super Bowl MVP to work with.

— Erik Lambert (@ErikLambert1) November 2, 2020

With the team in a tailspin losing their last three games, Nagy’s back was up against the wall, given the offense’s performance in Tennessee. Quarterback Nick Foles and the offense were scoreless through the first third quarters of the game. After changing the quarterback in week three and changing his offensive staff in the offseason but yet yielding the same results, the blame for Nagy grew week after week.

What is Matt Nagy writing down? Best response wins! pic.twitter.com/Tg1ZT9YLNU

— Max Haid (@maxhaid10) November 8, 2020

If the switch to Lazor as play-caller leads to an offensive improvement for the remainder of the season and playoff berth, Nagy will be bestowed with praise for making a season-saving decision. With a win on Monday Night against the Vikings, Chicago would be at 6-4 heading into their bye before playing the last six games of the season.

The main story heading into Monday Night’s game will be the change at play-caller. Nagy, being a descendant of the Andy Reid coaching tree, comes with the responsibility of being a quality offensive coach. Although expected to be a great offensive innovator, he still can show his value as a leader of men and overseer of the team.

Prior Coaches Have Found Success Being An Overseer

Several former coordinators have been hired for their offensive or defensive prowess but failed to do so as a head coach. In 1998, Brian Billick was the offensive coordinator for a Minnesota Vikings team that broke many records. He was hired by the Baltimore Ravens and was expected to build a similar offense, but never could.

Randy Moss highlights for the TL pic.twitter.com/HgFHDurgPy

— 𝐂 🦃🍁 (@WoIIin) November 12, 2020

Billick instead oversaw one of the best defensive units in NFL history, which was led by Hall of Fame linebacker Ray Lewis. During a coaching tenure that lasted nine seasons, the Ravens won a Super Bowl and made the playoffs four times. Billick’s defense consistently ranked in the top 10 during those nine seasons, while the offense never ranked higher than 14th.

Nagy has experienced the importance of making a change as his coaching career received a boost because of it. In 2017, Reid handed play-calling duties over to the future Bears head coach for the final five games of the season. The Chiefs would win four of their five games as they averaged 27 points per game under Nagy.

In 2017, #Chiefs HC Andy Reid gave up play calling duties to Matt Nagy in early December.

"He was able to show the trust in me at that point,” Nagy said. “It was a little bit of a changeup.”

Nagy said making this move for the #Bears is “the right thing to do."

— Sean Hammond (@sean_hammond) November 13, 2020

Fans and the media will get to see if the change has an immediate impact starting on Monday Night, but for right now, Nagy allowing the change to happen already speaks volumes. It speaks volumes that the coach came to terms that what he was doing wasn’t working for the team. Nagy may not be the play-caller going forward, but if his team makes it to the playoffs, he still will have a job as head coach whenever the season ends. It’s always difficult for one to admit failure, but the admission itself deserves credit.