Matt Nagy is nothing like John Fox. Being 20 years younger is certainly one reason for that. He's much more built for the current generation of football fans. He's more open, honest and not afraid to speak his mind. A "straight shooter" as Kyle Long called him. Fox never liked to give a direct answer. He mistrusted the media and kept his words to dull platitudes. Nagy, while still careful about revealing secrets, is far less conservative in his words.
That much was on display during his opening press conference. Then it came up again when he sat down for an interview on ESPN's NFL Live. He talked about the usual things. Most of them centering on how he's settling into the new job, particularly regarding Mitch Trubisky and the new offense.
Things got interesting though when the topic shifted to where he came from. The Andy Reid coaching tree has been some of the most fertile ground for great NFL coaches in recent years. He's hoping to live up to that tradition. That's why it was enthralling to hear his answer on which coach he wants to beat most moving forward.
Matt Nagy brilliantly sets expectations for Bears with Pederson challenge
On the surface, this was just a good-natured nod to an old friend. Nagy and Doug Pederson coached together for a long time in Kansas City. It makes sense that the Bears head coach would want to show his former peer what he can do. However, there is far more depth to this move than people think.
Smart head coaches don't view the media as an enemy to be feared. Instead, they see it as a tool to be used, often to motivate their own players. Jimmy Johnson was among the best at this. He once called into a radio station in the Dallas area to guarantee his Cowboys would beat San Francisco in the NFC championship. They did.
Nagy didn't just challenge a friend with this statement on national television. He set the expectation for his team. He made it clear to the Bears that Pederson and the Philadelphia Eagles, the reigning world champions, are the goal. Beating them is the top priority. Not the Packers. Not the Vikings. The team that holds the Lombardi trophy.
Nagy was reportedly known for his leadership and motivational capabilities. This is a great example of both on display. It will be interesting to see how the players respond.
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