Andy Reid Says Chicago Was Lucky to Have Matt Nagy This Year

Matt Nagy has gotten more than a significant amount of criticism this year. That tends to happen when one comes in with Super Bowl aspirations and fails to even make the playoffs. Nagy was Coach of the Year in 2018 but it appears the shine is off that apple. People are attacking him from all angles, most of them focused on the failure of his offense in its second season, ranking a dismal 29th in the NFL with two games left to play. Some have even wondered if it might be better if the Bears just moved on. One person who thinks those people are nuts is Andy Reid.

The longtime head coach is viewed as one of the best in the business. His Kansas City Chiefs, who are playoff-bound this season, are coming to Chicago for a Week 16 clash. So he had a chance to talk with the Chicago media about the state of the Bears. He offered some encouraging words on quarterback Mitch Trubisky and how he's battled back from his slump. His strongest remarks though were saved for Nagy.

He feels Chicago still doesn't grasp how good they have it with him. While the season may not have gone as hoped for the Bears, a lot of the issues had nothing to do with Nagy's coaching. If anything, that was one of the reasons the team managed to stay in the hunt as long as it did.

"That's what makes Matt so unique. I mean, he's so mentally tough. He tries to get the best out of his guys. The guys know that. And so, he'll be fine. I think he is great for the city of Chicago. I was in Green Bay for all those years and then in the NFC for those years, so I know Chicago. Chicago is a tough place. It's a blue-collar place and that's what he is. He's a central PA guy that's got that toughness. I just think it's a great fit."

Andy Reid may be biased but he's not wrong

There is no question Reid has a bias in this given he and Nagy spent years together in Philadelphia and Kansas City. That said, the guy isn't wrong in what he speaks. All things considered, Nagy has done a good job through his first two years in Chicago. He has a 19-11 record overall with an 8-3 record in the NFC North. Two things neither of his predecessors came anywhere close to. His ability to keep his players motivated through some dark periods of this season are well-documented.

A lot of coaches would've seen their team fold after those brutal losses to New Orleans and Los Angeles. Instead, he got them to rally from 4-6 to 7-6 and pushed the division-leading Packers to the limit before sadly falling in the final minutes. Yes, this season has been disappointing for a variety of reasons, but Nagy's ability as a head coach wasn't one of them. He weathered the storm and fought all the way to the end. Something to be commended. Not criticized.

So Reid is right in that regard. He's perfect for Chicago.