Descriptions of Matt Nagy By Bears Players Draw Similarities to NFL Legend

The Chicago Bears are NFC North champions for the first time in eight years. They defeated the Green Bay Packers to get there. It's been an incredible ride and so much of the credit for it goes to new head coach Matt Nagy. His ability to elevate a roster that finished 5-11 the year before into a 10-4 team with two games left is the story of 2018. This has opened up an intriguing question. Who exactly is Nagy? Sure there's the personality he puts to the cameras, but there's undoubtedly more to the man than that. A side that only the players and assistant coaches get a proper glimpse of. That's not to say he's fake but he certainly needs to have a part of him that is able to get the most out of these guys beyond saying the right things. Adam Jahns of the Chicago Sun-Times got some fascinating insight through the eyes of various players who actually joined the team over the course of the season. Those who weren't ingrained during a long training camp or preseason. What they had to say revealed a lot about the man, and how remarkably similar he is to a previous coaching great. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Q6WDbpRZE8

Matt Nagy exhibits elements of former Raiders legend John Madden

New Bears defensive back Marcus Williams was surprised at what he walked into when the Bears signed him following the injury to nickel corner Bryce Callahan. His first experiences were rather jarring and it started with how Nagy ran things.

“You can see confidence just coming out to practice. And the way we practice is really tough. It’s confidence plus preparation.” It’s took Williams less than a week to figure out where that confidence begins. “It all starts with great coaching,” Williams said. “[Nagy] brings a lot of energy. It just trickles down to the assistant coaches and to the players. That’s what I’ve seen, and everybody is excited. “I can feel it from everybody. It starts with coach, just how he talks to everybody, and it’s just everybody buying into what he’s saying. Everybody is trusting him and believing what he’s saying. In the short time I’ve been here, I’ve noticed that.”

He wasn't alone. Wide receiver Cyril Grayson has been on the practice squad for almost a month. During that time he's gotten quite the impression of how the other players on the roster carry themselves.

“They’re comfortable,” Grayson said. “It’s a be-yourself type of atmosphere, and that allows the players to be exactly who they are, to show their personality on and off the field. “That just allows you to play a lot more relaxed and free, and when you’re playing like that, then you have no choice but to be your best.”

Hearing that description brings back interesting memories.

Most people these days remember John Madden for two things: his stellar analyst work and his iconic video game franchise. They won't remember that he also went into the Hall of Fame as a head coach of the Oakland Raiders. The guy won 103 games in just 10 seasons and won a Super Bowl in 1976. He was only 43-years old when he retired. People have often asked how he was able to not only get his players to give such great effort but also able to elevate their games in big moments. His common reply will give Bears fans an interesting connection to the descriptions of Nagy. [video width="640" height="360" mp4="https://www.sportsmockery.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Americas-Game-1976-Raiders001032.122-001109.000.mp4"][/video] It's hard to argue that. Nagy has indeed allowed the players to be themselves all season but within the confines of a rule system. As long as you work and play hard, you can be yourself and have fun. It sounds overly simplistic but certain coaches have the mindset and personality to pull it off. Madden was one of them. Jimmy Johnson was another. It would appear that Nagy is from that same mold.