Matt Nagy details Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes' greatest improvement since his rookie season
Matt Nagy is the new offensive coordinator for the Kansas City Chiefs this season after five seasons of Eric Bieniemy filling the role. This isn't the first rodeo for Nagy in Kansas City, though. Before he became head coach of the Chicago Bears in 2018, he spent the two seasons prior as offensive coordinator of […]
Matt Nagy is the new offensive coordinator for the Kansas City Chiefs this season after five seasons of Eric Bieniemy filling the role.
This isn't the first rodeo for Nagy in Kansas City, though. Before he became head coach of the Chicago Bears in 2018, he spent the two seasons prior as offensive coordinator of the team. That includes Patrick Mahomes' rookie season — a season where he was the backup QB to Alex Smith and started just one game in the final week of the season.
Nagy has had the opportunity to see Mahomes grow from a wide-eyed rookie to a perennial All-Pro and MVP candidate. Working as QB coach last season and offensive coordinator in 2023 has given Nagy a unique perspective on the growth and development that Mahomes has gone through since his rookie season.
Nagy had an immediate answer for reporters when asked about Mahomes' competitive drive and if there was any improvement he's since made that screamed: "I want to be the best there ever was."
"Protections," Nagy explained. "I mean from his rookie year not understanding protections to now where he’s at, he’s really, really good at protections. Understanding what defenses are throwing at him. I mean these defensive coordinators are really good, and they like to throw a lot of different looks at you and change the backend pre-snap. So, film study – but him also understanding and taking what we do schematically with our protection scheme. Because if you’re not protected you can’t throw, and he’s mastered that."
Mahomes indicated on HBO's "The Shop" back in 2020 that he struggled to read defenses correctly early on in his NFL career, which is remarkable considering the fact that he won league MVP in his first year as a starter back in 2018.
During his seasons apart from Nagy, the improvements that Mahomes has made in identifying defensive schema, and adjusting protections accordingly, have given him a bit of an edge. He knows all too well after Super Bowl LV, how difficult life can be when you're not protected properly as a quarterback.
While Mahomes has made improvements in this regard, Nagy says he's still striving to get better, specifically when he does happen to mess up on a protection call.
"Now he wants to be even better, but that’s part of the game," Nagy continued. "He’s always had the physical traits to throw and run and all that stuff, but the mental side of protections he’s really on another level and it frustrates him when he doesn’t get it right, which we love.”
That's the mark of a true professional.
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Featured image via Denny Medley – USA TODAY Sports
