Matt Nagy facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Matt Nagy

Nagy at the White House in 2023
Kansas City Chiefs
Position:	Offensive coordinator
Personal information
Born:	(1978-04-24) April 24, 1978 (age 47) Dunellen, New Jersey, U.S.
Height:	6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Weight:	220 lb (100 kg)
Career information
High school:	Manheim Central (Manheim, Pennsylvania)
College:	Delaware (1996–2000)
Undrafted:	2001
Career history
As player:
New York Dragons (2002–2003) Carolina Cobras (2004) Georgia Force (2005–2006) Columbus Destroyers (2007–2008) Philadelphia Eagles (2009)*
As coach:
Manheim Central HS (PA) (2001) Quarterbacks coach Cedar Crest HS (PA) (2002–2003) Quarterbacks coach Palmyra Area HS (PA) (2008–2009) Offensive coordinator Philadelphia Eagles (2008–2009) Coaching intern Philadelphia Eagles (2010) Coaches' assistant Philadelphia Eagles (2011) Offensive quality control coach Kansas City Chiefs (2013) Quarterbacks coach Kansas City Chiefs (2016) Offensive coordinator Chicago Bears (2018) Head coach Kansas City Chiefs (2022) Senior assistant & quarterbacks coach Kansas City Chiefs (2023–present) Offensive coordinator
Career highlights and awards
As player: Third-team I-AA All-American (2000) First-team All-A-10 (2000) Second-team All-Arena (2005) As coach: 2× Super Bowl champion (LVII, LVIII) AP NFL Coach of the Year (2018) PFWA Coach of the Year (2018)
Career Arena statistics
TD–INT: 374–55 Passing yards: 18,866 Passer rating: 115.11
Head coaching record
Regular season:	34–31 (.523)
Postseason:	0–2 (.000)
Career:	34–33 (.507)
Coaching stats at PFR
Player stats at ArenaFan.com

Matthew Nagy (born April 24, 1978) is an American football coach. He used to be a quarterback. Currently, he is the offensive coordinator for the Kansas City Chiefs in the National Football League (NFL). Before this, he was the head coach for the Chicago Bears from 2018 to 2021.

As a player, Nagy played college football for the University of Delaware. He set many school passing records there from 1997 to 2000. After college, he played six seasons in the Arena Football League (AFL). He played for teams like the New York Dragons and Georgia Force.

After his playing career, Nagy became an assistant coach. He started with the Philadelphia Eagles in 2009. He then followed head coach Andy Reid to the Kansas City Chiefs in 2013. There, he became the quarterbacks coach and later the offensive coordinator. In 2018, Nagy became the head coach for the Chicago Bears. He led them to win their division and reach the playoffs. He has also won two Super Bowls as a coach with the Chiefs.

Early Life and High School Football

Matthew Nagy was born on April 24, 1978, in Dunellen, New Jersey. He moved to Manheim, Pennsylvania when he was young. Growing up, Matt loved playing different sports, especially football. His friends said he was very competitive.

Nagy played high school football and basketball at Manheim Central High School. He became the starting quarterback in his junior year. In 1994, he led his team, the Barons, to the state playoffs. They reached the semifinals but lost a close game.

In 1995, Nagy had a great senior year. He threw for 1,928 yards and 21 touchdowns. He also ran for 358 yards and six touchdowns. His team went 13–0, scoring many points. However, they lost to Berwick in the semifinals again. Nagy was named the Most Valuable Player for his county. His high school coach thought he was one of the best players he ever coached. Nagy finished high school with a 26–2 record. He had over 3,500 career passing yards.

College Football Career

Even though he was successful in high school, Nagy didn't get many offers from top college teams. This was because he wasn't very fast and was a bit smaller. He chose to play for the University of Delaware.

Delaware Stadium (pictured in 2014), where Nagy played college football for the Fightin' Blue Hens

Nagy played for Delaware from 1997 to 2000. He spent his first year as a "redshirt," meaning he practiced but didn't play in games. This allowed him to gain experience without using a year of his college eligibility. In 1997, he became the backup quarterback. He got a chance to play in the playoffs when the starter got hurt.

In 1998, Nagy became the main starter. He set 11 school records for passing. This included 2,916 yards in a season. He also threw 20 touchdowns. In 1999, he continued as the starter but got injured.

In his senior year in 2000, Nagy had an amazing season. His team won almost every game. They averaged 42.6 points per game. Nagy broke his own school record for passing yards with 3,436. He also set a record with 29 touchdown passes. For his great performance, he was named a third-team All-American.

Nagy finished his college career with 8,214 passing yards and 58 touchdown passes. These were the best numbers in his team's history at the time. He earned a degree in health and physical education. In 2019, he received an honorary degree from the university.

Professional Playing Career

After college, Nagy hoped to play in the NFL. He tried out for several teams like the New York Giants and Green Bay Packers. However, he didn't get signed. He then decided to try the Arena Football League (AFL).

Playing in the Arena Football League

Nagy joined the New York Dragons in the AFL. His coach saw similarities between Nagy and famous quarterback Kurt Warner. Nagy made his AFL debut in 2002. He started six games that year. He threw for 1,242 yards and 27 touchdowns.

In 2003, Nagy tore a ligament in his knee. This kept him from playing that season. He spent time recovering and even worked as a substitute teacher.

In 2004, Nagy was traded to the Carolina Cobras. He helped them win their first game, ending a 17-game losing streak. He played well, but the team struggled. He was later replaced as the starter.

Nagy then signed with the Georgia Force in 2005. He became the starter after the main quarterback got hurt. Nagy led the Force to a great season, finishing 11–5. He threw 66 touchdowns and was named second-team All-Arena. They even made it to the championship game, ArenaBowl XIX, but lost a very close game.

In 2006, Nagy continued to play well for the Force. He broke franchise records for passing yards (4,265) and touchdowns (85). He led the league in passer rating. The Force made the playoffs but lost in the second round.

In 2007, Nagy was traded to the Columbus Destroyers. He led them to the playoffs with a winning record. He had an amazing playoff run. He helped the Destroyers upset stronger teams to reach ArenaBowl XXI. However, they lost the championship game.

The AFL stopped playing in late 2008 due to money problems. This ended Nagy's playing career. Over six seasons, he threw for over 18,000 yards and 374 touchdowns.

Playing Statistics

Coaching Career Journey

Starting as a Coach

In 2001, Nagy returned to his old high school, Manheim Central, to coach quarterbacks. The next year, he coached quarterbacks at Cedar Crest High School. He also led the junior varsity team.

After working as an intern for the Philadelphia Eagles in 2008, Nagy became the offensive coordinator for Palmyra Area High School. He stayed there for two seasons before getting a full-time job in the NFL.

Time with the Eagles and Chiefs

In 2009, Nagy got a full-time job with the Eagles as an assistant coach. He moved up the coaching ranks. In 2013, when head coach Andy Reid moved to the Kansas City Chiefs, Nagy went with him. He became the Chiefs' quarterbacks coach.

In 2016, Nagy was promoted to co-offensive coordinator for the Chiefs. He worked closely with the quarterback, even though Coach Reid called the plays. Before the 2017 season, the New York Jets wanted to hire Nagy as their offensive coordinator, but the Chiefs didn't allow it. Later in 2017, Nagy took over play-calling duties for the Chiefs. Under his guidance, the team's offense improved a lot.

Leading the Chicago Bears

On January 8, 2018, Nagy became the head coach of the Chicago Bears. He was praised for his smart and creative ideas. He was one of the first younger coaches to get a head coaching job, a trend known as the "Sean McVay effect".

In his first season, Nagy led the Bears to win their division, the NFC North. They won 12 games and made the playoffs. He was named Coach of the Year by the Pro Football Writers Association and the Associated Press. However, the Bears lost a very close playoff game to the Philadelphia Eagles.

The Bears had some struggles in the next few seasons. Their offense had difficulties. In 2019, they finished 8–8 and missed the playoffs. In 2020, they started strong but then had a long losing streak. They still made the playoffs but lost in the first round.

In 2021, the Bears had a losing season, finishing 6–11. Nagy tested positive for COVID-19 during the season. On January 10, 2022, Nagy was fired by the Bears. He finished his time in Chicago with a 34–31 record.

Back with the Chiefs

Nagy returned to the Chiefs on February 25, 2022. He became a senior assistant and quarterbacks coach. In his first season back, the Chiefs won Super Bowl LVII. This was Nagy's first Super Bowl victory as a coach.

On February 24, 2023, Nagy was promoted to offensive coordinator again for the Chiefs. He helped the Chiefs win Super Bowl LVIII as well.

Coaching Style

Offensive Strategy

Matt Nagy is known for being an aggressive and creative coach. He uses a style of offense called the West Coast offense. This involves short, quick passes. He also likes to use plays that trick the defense.

One of his favorite tactics is the run-pass option (RPO). This allows the quarterback to decide whether to run or pass the ball based on how the defense reacts. He also uses many "trick plays" with unusual formations. These plays are designed to confuse the other team. Nagy got ideas for these plays from his time playing in the Arena Football League.

Nagy likes players who can do many things on offense. For example, running backs who can also catch passes. This helps his team find weaknesses in the defense.

Team Culture

Nagy is known for his positive attitude. Players and media often praise him for keeping the team's spirits high. He believes in a philosophy called "Be You." This means he encourages players to be themselves and enjoy the game.

After wins in 2018, Nagy created "Club Dub" in the locker room. This was a dance party with music and lights. It was a way to celebrate each victory. He also had a "Boom!" celebration after wins.

In 2019, Nagy started the "Sweep the Sheds Award." This award was given to an unsung player after each victory. It was inspired by a book about the New Zealand national rugby union team, which cleans its locker room after games as a sign of humility.

Personal Life

Matt Nagy married his high school sweetheart, Stacey, in 2002. They have four sons. Before playing in the Arena Football League, he was a teacher. After his playing career, he worked for a home construction company before becoming a full-time coach.

Nagy is close with both his parents, even though they divorced. His father, Bill, was also a high school football coach.

Head Coaching Record