RM Matt Nagy’s NFL coaching future takes another hit as Titans choose a different direction
Matt Nagy’s opportunities in the NFL coaching market are shrinking fast. The current Kansas City Chiefs offensive coordinator appeared to be on the verge of a fresh start, but two major developments on Monday significantly reduced his options.
A separation between Nagy and the Chiefs has felt unavoidable since the season ended. That belief only strengthened after reports surfaced that Kansas City plans to bring back Eric Bieniemy as offensive coordinator for the 2026 season. Any slim chance of Nagy remaining with the Chiefs effectively disappeared. Then came another blow: the job many believed was his best path back to a head-coaching role is no longer available.
Nagy had emerged as a leading candidate for the Tennessee Titans’ head coaching vacancy. He interviewed twice with the organization, including a second meeting on Monday. However, later that night, multiple league insiders reported that Tennessee intends to hire San Francisco 49ers defensive coordinator and former New York Jets head coach Robert Saleh instead.
Nagy’s coaching résumé includes early success in Kansas City, where he served as offensive coordinator in 2017 before being hired by the Chicago Bears as head coach the following year. His first season in Chicago was impressive: the Bears captured the NFC North title for the first time in eight years, and Nagy was named AP NFL Coach of the Year.
That momentum didn’t last. Chicago failed to produce another winning season under Nagy, and he was dismissed after a 6–11 finish in 2021. He ended his Bears tenure with a 34–31 regular-season record and no playoff victories. Saleh, who now appears set to land the Titans job, compiled a 20–36 record in three seasons with the Jets and also failed to reach the postseason.
Tennessee’s decision is a significant setback for Nagy. For months, he had been widely viewed as the frontrunner for the Titans role. Dianna Russini of The Athletic consistently connected Nagy to the job, and ESPN’s Dan Graziano recently predicted Tennessee would hire him. Even sportsbooks favored Nagy to take over in Nashville.
With Tennessee off the table, Nagy’s head-coaching prospects are fading
The question now is what comes next. Tennessee was widely considered Nagy’s most realistic destination. A return to Kansas City, while unlikely, was at least theoretically possible before Bieniemy’s expected comeback. With both scenarios now closed, Nagy’s path forward is far from clear.
The 47-year-old did interview with the Baltimore Ravens earlier this month, but he is seen as a long shot there. Betting odds place him on the same level as Bill Belichick to become Baltimore’s next head coach—an indication of how uncertain his chances are.
Beyond Baltimore and Tennessee, there has been little buzz connecting Nagy to other open positions around the league, even though several vacancies remain. While he has past ties to the Las Vegas Raiders and Arizona Cardinals, neither team has publicly acknowledged interviewing him. He is also not believed to be under serious consideration by the Steelers, Browns, Bills, or Dolphins.
As a result, Nagy may end up following a path similar to the one Bieniemy previously took. After leaving Kansas City in 2018, Bieniemy struggled to secure a head coaching role, moved on to coordinate Washington’s offense, spent time at UCLA, and eventually returned to the NFL before now heading back to the Chiefs.
A comparable scenario could unfold for Nagy. Even though he missed out on Tennessee’s top job, there remains a possibility—however slim—that he could join the Titans in a prominent offensive role under Saleh, functioning as a de facto “head coach of the offense.”
For now, Nagy’s future remains uncertain. What is clear, however, is that he will not be returning to Kansas City, and he will not be leading the Tennessee Titans as their next head coach.
