Matt Nagy has his doubter but there is one thing the guy has proven a master at. He knows how to motivate his players. One way he does this is by finding great quotes from successful people. Even if they come from outside of football. Last year it was Michael Jordan from the “Last Dance” documentary and what he put himself and his team through in order to be successful. So what does he have in store for the Chicago Bears in 2021?
He didn’t have to look far. Nagy has made it pretty clear he’s a basketball fan. That was evident last year with Jordan and now it seems another NBA Finals MVP caught his attention. That being Giannis Antetokounmpo. The Milwaukee Bucks superstar delivered the series of his life in topping the Phoenix Suns to claim the NBA championship. Yet it was his conduct during it that really helped people understand what made him so great.
This viral quote he made illustrated everything.
When you focus on the past, it’s your ego. When you focus on the future, it’s your pride. Focusing on the present? That’s humility. It’s amazing to think such words are coming from somebody who is only 26-years old. Antetokounmpo is so mature and has the perfect mindset of somebody who knows what it takes to be great day in and day out. That is why the Suns had no answer for him in the finals.
Nagy appears to have taken those words to heart, and he expressed as much during his press conference to open training camp. It would be easy to focus on the past like what happened in 2018 with the 12-4 season or last year with the disappointing 8-8 finish. It would also be easy for players to look to the future with their hopes for a good year or their desires for new contracts. None of that matters. What matters is what they all do each day. Giving the best they have. If the team as a whole does that? Good results will follow.
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Matt Nagy has the right mindset. Now can he deliver?
This is easily the most important season of his coaching career. Most believe he came dangerously close to being fired back in January. This after watching a 5-1 starter end with an 8-8 record. Yes, the Bears made the playoffs but that was more on a technicality than anything else. The NFL had just expanded the field to seven teams instead of six. That Chicago was summarily dismissed in New Orleans proved they didn’t belong.
He got a stay of execution but how long that lasts depends on this year. Matt Nagy might be a good motivator but that doesn’t excuse the consistently poor offenses he’s put together the past three years. Considering that is supposed to be his specialty? It looks even worse. This is why the Bears invested so many resources on that side of the ball the last few months. Especially at quarterback.
People are expecting progress.
If he can’t deliver it? Then ownership has a serious decision to make next spring. Do they want to leave Justin Fields’ future in his hands? No doubt it is not a point Nagy wants to reach. These next few months are going to be telling.