The Chicago Bears’ head coach Matt Nagy’s seat has been warm for a while. His seat can now be officially deemed “very hot” after amassing a record of 4-9 through 14 weeks of the 2021 season.
Nagy has managed to lose nine games despite, or maybe as a direct result of, having three viable quarterbacks. Andy Dalton is a seasoned veteran with many winning seasons under his belt, Justin Fields is a rookie that shows flashes of great talent and Nick Foles is a Super Bowl-winning backup. Yet the team underachieves on a regular basis.
The offensive-minded head coach of the Bears could very likely be one of the casualties of “Black Monday,” the NFL’s annual tradition of firing staff the day after the Super Bowl. With that in mind here, are three possible replacements for Nagy, if he is indeed fired before or after the 2021-2022 season comes to a close.
Kellen Moore
Dallas Cowboys offensive coordinator Kellen Moore is almost assuredly first in line if Mike McCarthy is let go for one reason or another. Given the Cowboys’ talented roster, it is not outside of the realm of possibility that McCarthy is fired if Dallas does not reach the NFC Championship Game or Super Bowl. He was a Cowboys quarterback, after all and is one of the hottest names when it comes to head coaching searches.
However, if McCarthy remains in his current position and Moore wants to become a head coach, signing with the Bears could be the best move. Fields is still extremely moldable and could be easily described as a more athletic Dak Prescott. The defense should still be fine, but the offense needs a rework, and a young mind like Moore might be the person to pull it off.
Moore has caught a little heat this season for not being quite creative enough and becoming a bit predictable. Some new scenery and new personnel could force him out of his perceived rut. He will have two speedy backs in David Montgomery and Khalil Herbert coupled with receiver Allen Robinson who is painfully under-utilized. That sounds like a recipe for Moore to become the creative play-caller most of the NFL sees him to be.
Byron Leftwich
Another quarterback-turned-coordinator makes the list in Tampa Bay’s Byron Leftwich. Again, if Fields is going to live up to his first round draft pick stock, there may not be anyone better to pair him up with than someone who has been there and done that. Leftwich, however, may have a leg up on Moore as he now has a Super Bowl ring as an offensive coordinator.
Speaking of a leg up, Leftwich has been coordinating Tom Brady for two years now. He has officially seen and been a part of Brady’s path to success, which he can help impart on a young Fields. That possibility is beyond invaluable.
The Bears do not have nearly as much receiving talent or veteran players as Tampa Bay does, but what will sell Chicago on hiring him is how he can bring Brady’s offensive version of success and comfort to a team that needs an offensive identity.
Greg Roman
Now for the other end of the spectrum. Greg Roman may not jump out as a great hire, but the Baltimore Ravens’ offensive coordinator has overseen the rise of Lamar Jackson from barely-selected in the first round to an NFL MVP.
Fields is not as speedy as Jackson, but may be more of a pure passer. Roman can absolutely work with that if he has a great passing-game coordinator. The real sell here is that this offense could look a lot like the run-heavy Ravens in a hurry. Fields loves to run and Montgomery and Herbert are a great duo to confuse opposing defensive lines, especially if all three of them are in the same formation.
This pick would be a commitment to the run in a big way. But with the Ravens success with Jackson, it may just be the right one in a tough, hard-nosed, cold-weather division.
Featured image courtesy of Ronald Martinez/Getty Images
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