Matt Nagy has been by quite a bit during the last 12 months. Last yr, he was fired as head coach of the Chicago Bears following a 3-14 marketing campaign in 2021. Now, he is game-planning for his first Super Bowl.
Nagy discovered his manner again to the Kansas City Chiefs forward of the 2022 season — the franchise he discovered success with as a quarterbacks coach and offensive coordinator years in the past. On Super Bowl Opening Night, Nagy was requested about his previous life with the Bears, and if his former quarterback, Justin Fields, would ever discover himself on the most important stage within the NFL.
“Without a doubt,” Nagy replied when requested if Fields will play in a Super Bowl, by way of NBC Sports. “You all noticed it this yr, what he can do. He’s going to proceed to continue to grow. However, you wish to say it, no matter a part of his recreation. To do what he did from his rookie yr to this previous yr, it is solely going to get higher from right here. He’s wired the appropriate manner. I bought to see him firsthand — how he research, how he practices, his ardour for the sport. He hates to lose. He’s at all times been that manner.”
Fields is coming off of a profession yr by which he accomplished 60.4 % of his passes for two,242 yards, 17 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. He made his largest affect on the bottom, nonetheless, as Fields rushed for 1,143 yards and eight touchdowns. The Ohio State product recorded the second-best dashing season for a quarterback in NFL historical past behind Lamar Jackson, and rushed for extra yards than any quarterback in a single regular-season recreation with 178 yards in opposition to the Miami Dolphins in November.
While the Bears completed with the worst document within the NFL at 3-14, Fields did a lot to show his price as a potential franchise quarterback. As the NFL world turned its consideration to this rising star, Nagy could not assist however do the identical.
“I completely paid consideration to him, and I used to be so pleased with the way in which he grew this yr as a quarterback,” Nagy stated. “Quite a lot of credit score to their coaches, what they did with him and the schemes they put round him, simply the way in which that he took on to that. You watch him – once more, we had been a giant a part of drafting him and getting him to Chicago. We had been all-in with Justin and sadly did not get a chance to see the place he may get to.
“But once more, that is a part of this course of, a part of the NFL. Those guys in Chicago, these coaches, have accomplished an exceptional job of working with him. He’s one hell of a participant, he has a really shiny future in Chicago. I’m pleased with him. He’s a very good child, he cares immensely in regards to the recreation, he is passionate and he will continue to grow.”
