One thing about Matt Nagy is he has a hell of a memory. There’s no other way to explain how he’s able to absorb the absurd about of information he does as head coach of the Chicago Bears. A key part of being a good coach is never forgetting the people who helped shape the person you are. Ever so quietly, he expressed that gratitude is the most awesome way possible.
The name Chris Jackson isn’t going to mean much to Bears fans. News came out on Tuesday that the team had hired the former wide receiver and high school coach as a defensive assistant. This after he spent training camp with the team last year as part of the Bill Walsh Coaching Fellowship.
#Bears coaching staff update:
Chris Jackson has been named a defensive assistant coach. He previously assisted the Bears during training camp in 2018 in conjunction with the NFL’s Bill Walsh Diversity Coaching Fellowship. pic.twitter.com/IJxpu3Fwow— Chicago Bears (@BearsPR) February 12, 2019
Nagy is the sort of guy willing to offer opportunities like this to such coaches. Why? He arrived in the NFL the exact same way 10 years ago. However, there is a deeper connection to Jackson than people might realize. It turns out for a brief period back in the mid-2000s, the two were teammates.
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Your eyes aren’t deceiving you. That’s a young Nagy throw a touchdown pass to Jackson in Arena Bowl XIX between the Georgia Force and Colorado Crush. What’s so great about it is not only the one-handed catch itself but the fact the two pulled it off with just 18 seconds left to tie the game. Proof they both operated well under pressure.
Sadly Georgia still lost the game but it’s clear Nagy never forgot his old friend. After playing together 14 years ago, they are reunited as coaches once again trying to pursue a championship. It will be fun to see what sort of role Jackson plays on the defensive staff.