It feels like Chicago Bears head coach Matt Nagy’s job has been in jeopardy for years.
Ever since the 2018 season where Nagy teamed with quarterback Mitchell Trubisky for a 12-4 regular-season record, things have been downhill.
Trubisky is gone, but Nagy remains.
Nagy, the perceived offensive mind, is now mentoring Trubisky’s heir apparent, Justin Fields, and the Bears are off to a 3-3 start.
Some would argue that could be a problem for Fields’ development.
If the Bears finally decide to show Nagy the door, here are three potential coaches to replace Matt Nagy.
As a disclaimer, there are many coordinators in waiting or on the rise in the NFL so the list is much longer than three.
The criteria selected for the Chicago job is the ability or experience to develop a young quarterback.
1. Brian Daboll, Buffalo Bills Offensive Coordinator
Daboll’s pupil Josh Allen is off to a great start in his young NFL career.
2020 was Allen’s breakout year, and Daboll has been with him since his 2018 rookie year.
Daboll, 46, has bounced around the college and NFL ranks and worked under arguably the two greatest contemporary coaches (and likely of all time) in the NCAA and NFL: Nick Saban and Bill Belichick.
He is a five-time Super Bowl Champion as a result of two separate stints with the New England Patriots, from 2000-2006 and 2013-2016 in the roles of defensive assistant, wide receivers coach, and tight ends coach.
Daboll was with Alabama in 2017 when they won the National Championship.
He served as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach for the lone season he worked under Nick Saban.
We often talk about growth potential found in players but rarely coaches. Brian Daboll is an excellent example. He really struggled as a play-caller early in his career. Now, he's one of the very best.
— Brent Sobleski (@brentsobleski) October 19, 2021
2. Joe Brady, Carolina Panthers Offensive Coordinator
Brady, 32, is one of the young up and comers.
He is in his fourth NFL season working in various offensive capacities.
Brady served as an offensive assistant to Sean Payton and the New Orleans Saints from 2017-2018.
He is in his second season under Carolina Coach Matt Rhule as the offensive coordinator.
Though it is early in the season, Brady has helped quarterback Sam Darnold who joined the team in the 2021 offseason.
Arguably, the Panthers’ offense has cooled off without Christian McCaffrey so that could dampen his chances.
No disrespect, but Joe Brady’s offense is regressing. There should be no more talk of him being a HC next season.
— Kyle Bailey (@KyleBaileyClub) October 17, 2021
3. Kellen Moore, Dallas Cowboys Offensive Coordinator
Idk how long the Cowboys will be able to hold on to him, but Kellen Moore is a star. Teams looking for an innovative offensive mind as their next head coach in 2022, the list should start with him.
— Jordan Reid (@Jordan_Reid) October 17, 2021
Moore, 33, is somewhat of a dual-threat.
He was an NFL quarterback for the Dallas Cowboys from 2015-2017.
After retiring, he was hired as the Cowboys’ quarterbacks coach in 2018 and was promoted to offensive coordinator the following season.
He remained in that position after head coach Jason Garrett was fired because his successor Mike McCarthy kept him on the staff.
Moore has been a young NFL quarterback and has coached one in Dak Prescott.
Conclusion
Of course, not all coordinators make great head coaches.
All this means is that any of these candidates may be hugely successful in their current positions and less effective as the head coach of the Chicago Bears.
After all, Matt Nagy had an excellent resume loaded with experience as an assistant before joining the Bears.
