Andy Reid went to bat for one of his former Kansas City Chiefs coaches on Monday, urging an NFL team to hire Matt Nagy as head coach.
During his press conference announcing Eric Bieniemy’s return as offensive coordinator, Reid spent several minutes passionately advocating for Nagy to land a head coaching opportunity somewhere in the NFL. According to ESPN’s Nate Taylor, Reid didn’t hold back when discussing his now-former offensive coordinator.
“He deserves to have a head coaching job,” Reid said. “Somebody is missing a gem here. That’s how I feel. I would love to see him get picked up and going.”
The endorsement is genuine. Reid and Nagy worked together for many years across two stints, and their relationship clearly runs deep. But it also comes at a complicated moment.
Nagy is leaving Kansas City after the Chiefs went 6-11 this season—the first losing record with Patrick Mahomes at quarterback. The shift from Nagy to Bieniemy signals Reid wanted a change after a disappointing year that saw the Chiefs finish 1-9 in one-score games and miss the playoffs.
Nagy was a finalist for the Tennessee Titans‘ head coaching gig, and despite Reid’s high praise, the Titans went in a different direction.
– Jeff Hafley – Matt Nagy – Robert Saleh
Kansas City Chiefs’ Andy Reid Endorses Matt Nagy as Head Coach, Tennessee Titans Passed
Nagy earned NFL Coach of the Year honors in 2018 after leading the Bears to a 12-4 record and a playoff berth. That was year one. The next three years told a different story: 8-8, 8-8, 6-11. The Bears fired him in January 2022 after a four-year tenure that ended with a 34-31 overall record and an 0-2 mark in the playoffs.
The trend line was concerning. Chicago’s offense never found consistency, Mitch Trubisky regressed after his 2018 peak, and by year four, Nagy had lost the locker room. The Bears moved on, and Nagy returned to Kansas City as a quarterbacks coach in 2022 before being promoted to offensive coordinator in 2023.
That’s where the narrative gets more complicated. As Reid’s offensive coordinator, Nagy has two Super Bowl rings (2023 and 2024 seasons) and a 6-1 playoff record over three years. But there’s context that matters: Reid calls the plays, not Nagy. That means Nagy’s success in Kansas City has been built on Reid’s offensive system, executed under Reid’s play-calling, with Mahomes running the show.
When the Titans interviewed Nagy as a finalist for their head coaching job earlier this month, they ultimately chose Robert Saleh. Tennessee conducted in-person interviews with both candidates on Jan. 18th, and Saleh’s visit reportedly impressed general manager Mike Borgonzi (with whom he has strong ties from their time together) and the search committee. The decision reportedly came down to leadership and vision. Saleh got the job.
Matt Nagy’s Recent History Offers Concerns, Chiefs Go with Eric Bieniemy
This past season raises legitimate questions any team would need to consider. The Chiefs went 6-11 under Nagy’s offensive coordination, finishing with the first losing record of Mahomes’ career. Nagy himself called the offense “inconsistent,” and the statistics support that assessment. Kansas City ranked second in expected points added per play after a 6-6 start, then struggled down the stretch as injuries mounted on the offensive line.
But the bigger concern might be the one-score games. The Chiefs went 1-9 in close contests—a startling reversal for a team that historically excels in clutch moments. That’s a culture and mentality issue, not just an X’s-and-O’s problem.
Mahomes addressed this directly in mid-January when he said the next offensive coordinator needed to “hold people accountable.” That’s not casual criticism. That’s a direct statement about the expectations and discipline level during Nagy’s tenure.
Reid acknowledged the need for change on Monday, saying, “Change can be beneficial at times. That’s what gets me excited.” He brought Bieniemy back specifically because of his reputation for demanding accountability from players.
The Reid-Nagy Relationship
Reid’s loyalty to Nagy speaks volumes about their personal connection and what Nagy has contributed to the organization.
But the market is telling a different story. The Titans passed on him. Other teams haven’t lined up to hire him. And the 2025 season—regardless of injuries—gave potential employers pause about what the offense will look like when Nagy is making the final calls instead of Reid.
Maybe Nagy gets another shot somewhere. Maybe he proves Reid right. But right now, that “gem” is untested as a head coach, which is why teams are looking elsewhere.
Chiefs’ Andy Reid Just Called This Titans Target a ‘Gem’—But There’s a Problem