RM Why Firing Matt Nagy Won’t Hurt the Kansas City Chiefs: A Change That Won’t Impact Performance or Super Bowl Aspirations
After the Kansas City Chiefs’ 16-13 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday, which officially eliminated them from playoff contention, the question that’s on every fan’s mind is: what went wrong with the offense? Despite the Chiefs being known for their explosive, high-scoring attacks, they’ve only managed an average of 24.2 points per game (11th in the NFL) before Sunday’s defeat, and a disappointing 13 points in the loss to the Chargers—zero of which came in the second half.
While some of the struggles can be attributed to factors like Travis Kelce’s aging and a lack of production from the running game, a growing number of people are pointing the finger at the coaching staff, specifically offensive coordinator Matt Nagy.
With the Chiefs now officially out of the playoff picture, it seems inevitable that changes will be made, even though ESPN’s Adam Schefter recently reported that a shakeup to the coaching staff wasn’t likely. However, if the Chiefs reconsider their position, Matt Nagy should be the first to go, and truthfully, they wouldn’t lose much if they decided to part ways with him.
Why Firing Matt Nagy Could Be Beneficial for the Chiefs
Nagy first made a name for himself in Kansas City under head coach Andy Reid, serving as the quarterbacks coach from 2013-2015 and later as the offensive coordinator from 2016-2017. After a failed stint as head coach of the Chicago Bears, he returned to Kansas City in 2023 to fill the void left by Eric Bieniemy, who moved on to become the offensive coordinator for the Washington Commanders.
However, it was also around this time that the Chiefs’ offense began to decline. While several external factors have contributed to this drop-off, it’s hard to ignore the decline under Nagy’s leadership.
Offensive Decline with Nagy in Charge:
| Stat Category | 2018-2022 Average | 2023-2025 Average |
|---|---|---|
| Points Per Game | 30.1 | 22.3 |
| Total Offense (Yards) | 406.1 | 305.0 |
| Passing Yards | 305.0 | 250.8 |
| Rushing Yards | 111.6 | 107.7 |
While many teams might see a change in offensive coordinator as a significant move, the Chiefs could be the exception. Even though Reid delegated certain responsibilities to Nagy in both of his tenures with the team, Reid has always been the final authority when it comes to play-calling. This has left Nagy to focus on day-to-day operations, rather than being the driving force behind the offensive game plan.
There’s always the possibility that the Chiefs could try to shake things up by giving Nagy more control over play-calling, but his past track record with the Bears suggests this wouldn’t solve much. From 2018 to 2019, Nagy had full play-calling duties, but the Bears offense ranked no higher than 20th in total offense and 21st in points scored. By his final season in 2021, the Bears’ offense had dropped to 24th in yards and 27th in scoring.
Of course, one might argue that Nagy’s struggles could be chalked up to having less-than-ideal quarterbacks like Mitchell Trubisky and Justin Fields under center. However, this same trend of underwhelming offensive production has continued even with Patrick Mahomes leading the offense in Kansas City.
What Happens If the Chiefs Let Nagy Go?
Some may argue that replacing Nagy wouldn’t make a huge difference in the Chiefs’ performance, but there’s little to lose by letting him go. It’s worth noting that while Bieniemy never called plays in Kansas City, his influence still played a pivotal role in the development of Mahomes and the Chiefs’ success, including two Super Bowl victories.
In light of this, it’s highly plausible that Nagy could be shown the door soon. With just three games remaining, all eyes will be on him to see if he gives the Chiefs more reasons to part ways before the season ends.
