Matt Nagy said once that he’s not an idiot. Plenty of Chicago Bears fans would beg to differ but the reality is this is true. The man is smart enough to understand his current reality. The Bears have a solid roster but it’s not a complete one. Why? They’re still missing the key ingredient that every team needs to truly compete in this modern NFL. A quarterback.
Nagy tried to make things work with Mitch Trubisky for the past three seasons. He also gave Nick Foles an opportunity as well. While it wasn’t a complete disaster, the results, in the end, were disappointing. A 28-20 record across three seasons, two playoff trips, and no playoff wins. That was enough to save Nagy from being fired this offseason. Whether he can navigate his way off the hot seat in 2021? That will hinge on what the Bears do this offseason.
All of it begins and ends at the quarterback position.
Nagy spoke with insider Mike Silver of NFL.com about the state of things across the NFL. About how amazing the movement of noteworthy quarterbacks is starting to become commonplace. Tom Brady left New England for Tampa. Philip Rivers left L.A. for Indianapolis. Now Matthew Stafford is a Ram, Jared Goff is a Lion, and Deshaun Watson could be traded from Houston.
Many wonder if the Bears have any plans to throw their hats in the ring. Nagy didn’t outright say what the plans are, but it was easy to take from his words that Chicago will be aggressive. Why? It isn’t about satisfying egos or something selfish like that. It’s much simpler. A feeling that they are genuinely a quarterback away from competing for a Super Bowl.
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“Anything we can think of, we’re gonna look into it,” Nagy said of the Bears, who suffered a first-round playoff defeat to the Saints after a season in which both Trubisky (who later regained his job) and veteran Nick Foles were benched. “We feel like we’re really close.”
Matt Nagy understands the Bears can’t afford to be bashful
When asked if he thinks the effect Brady has had on Tampa Bay will make other teams more aggressive in their own pursuits of quarterback upgrades, he was pretty honest.
“I absolutely do,” he said.
Evidence is already there. Several teams were in on the Stafford trade derby before he ended up going to L.A. Those same teams are likely keeping close tabs on the Watson situation in Houston and also a developing one in Philadelphia with Carson Wentz.
Nagy’s comments paint a clear picture. The Bears are involved in all of those discussions. No stone will be left unturned this offseason. They will do anything and everything in their power to secure a quarterback. Somebody they believe can put them in a position to chase a championship. The key to the matter is whether they have enough good fortune to entice the right guy.
Most experts don’t believe that will be the case.
While the Bears do have a talented roster, it’s also aging in certain areas. Especially on defense. Allen Robinson is a pending free agent. Nagy is on the hot seat. Would a top quarterback really sign off on being traded to Chicago despite such concerns? Nobody knows the answer to that, but it’s a big reason why the Bears aren’t being taken as serious contenders for any of the big names.
From what Matt Nagy is saying, that won’t stop the team from doing everything possible to prove them wrong.