Matt Nagy has plenty of critics both in the Chicago Bears fanbase and the wider media. However, he also has plenty of supporters too. Not just inside the organization but also among several current and former NFL names. Peyton Manning spoke highly of him. So did Jay Cutler. Yet one of his biggest backers is none other than franchise legend Mike Ditka. The Hall of Famer has praised Nagy on numerous occasions.
When given that opportunity to do so again, he didn’t hesitate. Mark Carman of Fansided had the Super Bowl-winning head coach on his podcast to talk about all things Bears. They of course discussed the 1985 team and Ditka’s playing career. His often tense relationship with Buddy Ryan. The sad story of Steve McMichael and what he meant to the team. Then when asked whether he felt Nagy was the right guy for the job today?
Ditka didn’t even stop to think about it.
“I do. I think Matt Nagy is a very good coach. I think he’s an outstanding coach. I think they’re putting the right people in the right places. You just got to get it all together. You have to get the defense and the offense on the same page.”
That much is true. Thus far the Bears have enjoyed a long run of good defense during Nagy’s tenure. His struggle has been finding ways to get the offense up to a level that can match them. Despite constant adjustments and tinkering, it just hasn’t come together yet. Carman asked why this franchise hasn’t been able to win a Super Bowl since that ’85 season. Ditka admitted there are always multiple reasons, but the biggest isn’t hard to see for him.
“Again, it comes down to personnel. Your scouting has a lot to do with it. Coaching certainly has a lot to do with it. Then the players have to play. I don’t care what was said about them before you got them. They got to play once you get them.”
It isn’t surprising Ditka, a coach would place primary blame on the players not being good enough. Then again when looking at the Bears’ history over the past three decades? It is hard to argue his point. The team just hasn’t had the necessary star power to claim that elusive second Lombardi trophy. Particularly on the offensive side of the ball. Look at the reigning champion Buccaneers for a reminder of how far away they still are.
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Does this hold true for Matt Nagy as well?
In all honesty, yes it does. When comparing the offensive and defensive personnel from 2018 to 2020, it isn’t really a contest. The defense had Khalil Mack, Kyle Fuller, Akiem Hicks, and Roquan Smith. Thus far only Allen Robinson has been a consistent star on the offensive side. To say nothing of the ongoing problems at quarterback. This is why Nagy and GM Ryan Pace worked so hard to overhaul it this offseason.
Are Andy Dalton and Justin Fields an upgrade over Mitch Trubisky and Nick Foles? Yes, at least on paper. Obviously, they still need to prove it on the field. That is where Matt Nagy gets paid the big bucks. He’s supposed to be the quarterback specialist. He played the position, he coached the position, and he learned under one of the best in Andy Reid. If he can’t get productive play from those two?
Then the Bears may have to think about making a change.
One can make a strong case that Nagy gets more criticism than he deserves. Going 28-20 with two quarterbacks the wider NFL views as nothing more than backups should be applauded. Still, after back-to-back 8-8 seasons and being 0-2 in the playoffs? He is becoming labeled as a coach who can’t get the most out of his players when it matters. That has to change in the near future. Otherwise, people will stop defending him.