The Kansas City Chiefs are bracing for a significant potential departure from their coaching ranks this offseason, with offensive coordinator Matt Nagy emerging as a candidate for a prominent head coach vacancy.
Nagy Enters Titans Interview Process
According to NFL insiders Tom Pelissero and Ian Rapoport, Nagy is expected to meet with executives from the Tennessee Titans next week as their interview process begins. The Titans are searching for a new leader after dismissing Brian Callahan earlier this season following a poor run of form, despite having the No. 1 overall pick Cam Ward on their roster.
The 47-year-old Nagy is a long-serving lieutenant to Chiefs head coach Andy Reid, having been part of two Super Bowl victories as the strategic mind behind quarterback Patrick Mahomes' offence. His history with Kansas City spans two separate spells, interrupted by a four-season tenure as head coach of the Chicago Bears.
Strong Competition for the Role
Nagy will not have a clear path to the job, however. He is set to face considerable competition from a number of experienced figures. The reported candidate list includes:
- Former Dallas Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy.
- Green Bay Packers defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley.
- Los Angeles Chargers defensive coordinator Jesse Minter.
- Ex-New York Jets head coach Robert Saleh.
During his time in Chicago, Nagy led the Bears to the playoffs in 2018 and 2020, but was relieved of his duties at the close of the 2021 campaign. He subsequently returned to the Chiefs, initially as a senior assistant and quarterbacks coach, before reclaiming the offensive coordinator role when Eric Bieniemy departed for Washington in 2023.
A Summer of Uncertainty in Kansas City
The potential loss of Nagy underscores what promises to be a period of substantial turnover for the Chiefs, who missed the playoffs this season for the first time since 2014. Defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo has also drawn consistent interest from teams seeking a head coach in recent years, and it is unclear if he will entertain interview offers this cycle.
As the regular season concludes this weekend, only the Titans and the New York Giants have confirmed head coach openings, but more are anticipated. Organisations such as the New York Jets, Miami Dolphins, and Cincinnati Bengals could also join the hunt.
This backdrop of change coincides with pivotal questions surrounding the Chiefs' star players. Quarterback Patrick Mahomes is currently rehabilitating from an ACL injury, while veteran tight end Travis Kelce, whose contract expires at season's end, has been non-committal about his future. Kelce has stated he will weigh all options with his family and the team.
Some observers suggest a clue may come during the Chiefs' final game against the Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday. Notably, Kelce's fiancée, singer Taylor Swift, has not attended an away game since the playoff victory in Buffalo in January 2024. Her presence at this ostensibly meaningless fixture in Las Vegas might be interpreted as a sign it could be Kelce's final appearance in a Chiefs uniform.
