Kansas City Chiefs’ Week 16 clash with Tennessee Titans doubles as an important audition for offensive coordinator Matt Nagy
Week 16 is a big game for the future of the Kansas City Chiefs’ offense.
The Kansas City Chiefs’ Week 16 game against the Tennessee Titans might not hold much weight with the team eliminated from playoff contention, but it’ll be essential for the future of at least one member of the coaching staff. That person is none other than Chiefs’ offensive coordinator Matt Nagy, who very well could be auditioning for a head-coaching job on Sunday afternoon.
In a recent report from The Athletic’s NFL Insider, Dianna Russini, she says that Kansas City’s Week 16 opponent views Nagy as a “serious candidate” for their now-vacant NFL head-coaching job. This makes a lot of sense when you consider the front office ties in Tennessee.
“Tennessee Titans general manager Mike Borgonzi and president of football operations Chad Brinker are leading the organization’s head coaching search, and I’m told their list is taking shape.
Chiefs offensive coordinator Matt Nagy is viewed internally as a serious candidate. Nagy will be in Nashville on Sunday with Kansas City, but NFL rules state there can’t be any job discussions.”
Nagy, of course, previously earned a head-coaching job after a stint as offensive coordinator in Kansas City. He was the head coach of the Chicago Bears from 2018 through 2021, notching a 34-31 regular-season record and going 0-2 in the postseason. Nagy has expressed interest in another opportunity to become a head coach in the NFL, but this is hardly the season where one might think he’d become a coveted candidate.
There’s another reason that Chiefs OC Matt Nagy might be on his way out the door in Kansas City
According to a report by NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero, Chiefs OC Matt Nagy is on an expiring contract and set to become a free agent. They echo Russini’s report by stating that Nagy will be considered a top candidate for head-coaching vacancies. However, they also add that he could find work elsewhere as an offensive coordinator. They also mention some former offensive coaches from Kansas City as options to replace Nagy.
“One situation to watch: Offensive coordinator Matt Nagy chose not to sign an extension in the offseason and is set to become a free agent. Nagy will be a top head coaching candidate and could well land a job. If he doesn’t, Nagy could become a hot candidate for a play-calling job elsewhere. That would mean Reid needs a new OC, with several of his former assistants — including Eric Bieniemy and perhaps Giants interim HC Mike Kafka — among potential candidates.”
There’s certainly no guarantee that the Chiefs are rushing Nagy out the door, but if they were to make a change to the offensive coaching staff. It might be wise to add some actual outside voices to the offense instead of going with some of the folks who’ve already been in and left the building. Eric Bieniemy has done a nice job with the running back room in Chicago. However, Mike Kafka’s offense in New York certainly has some significant question marks after running rookie QB Jaxson Dart into the ground.
The team also has some internal candidates they’ve considered before, with Nagy in the running for a head-coaching job last offseason as well.
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