It has been almost four months since the Bears hired Matt Nagy and without one game under his belt, he already understands what it means to be the head coach of the Chicago Bears and also what it means to bring the team and its fans into the 21st century.
Over the past seven years, the Bears have been far behind in football strategy, but transitioning from regression to hope and advancement was set in motion in the Bears’ voluntary minicamp this past week.
Our very own Erik Lambert has already written about how Nagy’s most recent presser proved that John Fox was clueless in understanding how Mitchell Trubisky needed to develop. And I agree with him. But this week proved even more to Bears fans that their new head coach understands his position, and is excited to be here.
In Matt Nagy’s first press conference during the mini-camp, he went into tremendous detail on how his offense would work, Trubisky’s progress and more as he continues to learn as much about his new team as fans do. Nagy was open and engaging with reporters and fans that are hungry for football, especially positivity when it comes to their football team. That is something John Fox never offered.
Subscribe to the BFR Youtube channel and ride shotgun with Dave and Ficky as they break down Bears football like nobody else.
Fox always kept everything close to the chest, and never wanted to reveal team secrets. Spoiler, there were none. He shunned the media the second he took the job, enacting prohibitive media policies in which an average ‘Joe’ watching in Bourbonnais could have more access to players and video sharing than the beat reporters could.
While Chicago is an incredible sports town, the one unifying team is the Bears. No matter where one turns or no matter the season, the Bears are top of mind. From the start, Matt Nagy appears to understand that and embrace it. He knows how essential his job is in the NFL, but most importantly understands his necessary and welcomed relationship with the city of Chicago.
Everything is better when the Bears are winning, and it looks like Nagy will do anything and everything in his power to make sure that happens.
When Nagy needed to cater to the die-hard fans who were looking for the x’s and o’s he gave them that in his presser, going into detail on his offensive strategy and was VERY CLEAR that the Wide Receiver position is still not good enough with the NFL Draft ahead.
Nagy at the podium | #BearDown#Bears HC Matt Nagy addresses the media following today’s practice.
🎥: @ChicagoBears https://t.co/WEhdVgLMTP
— Hooked Sports Chicago (@HookedSportsChi) April 18, 2018
Nagy was able to outline what it means to play football in 2018, with an incredibly creative offensive plan of attack, bringing that 21st century mindset to a team and city that are all to used to 1985.
In breaking down all of the specifics detailed by Nagy, especially the admission about the receiving corps, it was clear the Nagy was not John Fox, who would’ve never brought up a ‘controversy’ like that. He would have given the company line and moved quickly to the next question.
As the Cubs have proven in this town, transparency will win many friends and with that, tremendous trust from Bears fans. Bears fans never were able to trust John Fox but they should be confident that they can trust Matt Nagy.
Nagy also presents an excitement about football we haven’t seen in a Bears’ coach, while also understanding how to connect with each and everyone in the room of reporters, his locker room and through the TV with fans at home. This was something John Fox, Marc Trestman nor Lovie Smith was ever able to accomplish.
Mitch Trubisky talked today at Halas Hall. Said “I feel like these last three days I’ve been coached more than I ever have” because he is surrounded by “a bunch of brilliant offensive minds.” pic.twitter.com/vzNdo805UF
— Colleen Kane (@ChiTribKane) April 19, 2018
Fox was distant and not trustworthy, Trestman while excited, was always too cerebral and unable to connect with his own players and fans and Lovie was unwilling and unable to connect with fans and reporters as well, even while taking the team to Super Bowl XLI.
It's actually quite impressive that John Fox continues to insult the fanbase's intelligence in these press conferences, while doing such a bad job of coaching his football team. #Bears
— Aaron Leming (@AaronLemingNFL) November 13, 2017
Matt Nagy is a very approachable, smart and committed coach. But there was one video this week that reached all Bears fans right at the core, bringing out the little kid in all of Bears nation.
Nagy assembled the team this week for one of the first times addressing HIS Chicago Bears and mentioned that he had a sneak peak of their first game of the season.
Nagy gathered the troops, and step-by-step (see below) outlined their opponent with little hints and clues, using the phrase when telling the time such as, “7:20pm… Little NBC action, turn the lights on…” At that moment, he’s already joking and connecting with the players in a relatable way. He’s having fun and is excited to tell them how they are going to kick off the year. This isn’t just another job like it seemed to be for John Fox, he’s trying to build a team, and a new image of what Bears football should be.
Nagy closes his opening monologue by revealing the opponent, “at Green Bay Baby…” Nagy is just as excited as the team, and also seems like he will be able to connect with Bears fans in a way the other coaches were unable to do.
Coach Nagy breaks the 2018 schedule to #DaBears.
See how they react and share yours with us in emojis.
🤗🧀🤩👌😎✊🐻⬇️🔥👍🦃👀💯 pic.twitter.com/oIi9cqatY5— Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears) April 20, 2018
He knows what Bears vs. Packers means in this city. And if he didn’t, he should have never taken the job. While championships are the goal, beating Green Bay is a close second. Nagy was reaching all Bears fans, young and old, who can all bond over hating the same colors of green and gold.
Facing Green Bay on Sunday Night Football is one tough task for the first year head coach on opening night, but Nagy doesn’t seem fazed by it, he seems ecstatic. He is excited for the challenge and will do everything in his power to make sure his team is ready for prime time.
Fox always seemed fearful of that pressure and was cowardice when it came to preparing or coaching the Bears in some of the biggest games of his tenure. That seemed to trickle down his staff when former Offensive Coordinator Dowell Loggains said that the opposing defense determined what the Bears would run on offense. That logic does not even define the word offense. If you’re playing reactively, that means you’re on defense, which the Bears seemed to do all too often when the ball was in Trubsiky’s hands. But I digress.
Matt Nagy has yet to trot out onto the Soldier Field turf in his visor adorned with the Bears’ ‘B’ on it, but fans should be excited about what this team could be built into.
Nagy will provide a positive atmosphere for fans to truly connect with him and the team, and allow fans to understand what the Bears stand for and how they should expect them to play. He will bring a 21st-century mindset to the offensive side of the ball while bringing the true fans to their nostalgic roots with the sheer hatred of the Green Bay Packers.
The Bears are building something special, and they seem to have the right coach in place to be the face of the franchise to bring the Bears back to glory. It’s been a long time since 1985, so here’s hoping the Bears don’t start 2-14 to kick off 2018.
