Matt Nagy Shows Why He’s a Great Coach During Camp Practice

Matt Nagy is the reigning Coach of the Year and it’s well-deserved. He took a team that was 5-11 in 2017 and won the NFC North while going 12-4. Players swear by his intelligence and natural leadership. Not to mention his infectious enthusiasm for the game and obsession with finding ways to win. There isn’t a man in that locker room who doesn’t respect him or wouldn’t play hard for him. That’s hard to do.

So how exactly does he do it? Nagy comes across as an affable and affectionate man to the media. He answers every question as honestly as he can without giving too much away. He’ll always find time to sign autographs and do things for charity. Nagy will ask people about their personal lives and has a knack for naturally motivating someone. He is one of those guys that has coaching in his DNA.

However, simply being a guy who gives pats on the back and pep talks don’t usually cut the mustard for long in the NFL. More is needed. Every so often a head coach needs to have a bite. An ability to command attention when the players aren’t doing things according to his standards. If he has to scream, he’ll scream. He will be nice as long as you do your job. If that stops happening though, don’t expect him to stay quiet about it.

He proved that while being mic’d up for a recent practice down in Bourbonnais.

Matt Nagy shows that ability to read situations and adjust

Keep in mind all of that happens in the space of just a couple of hours. Nagy flips between encouragement, firm direction, and outright chastisement from drill to drill. That showcases his knack for keeping a firm grip on what’s happening throughout the practice. Nothing escapes his notice. He is on top of everything. If a player slips up, he lets them hear about it. Nobody gets to feel relaxed. Not on this team.

Nagy’s job isn’t to make players feel comfortable. If anything it’s the opposite. He wants them on an edge. The more focused they are on keeping their jobs by playing well, the better the team plays. If that doesn’t happen, he won’t hesitate to find somebody who will. There is a long way to go before proclaiming Nagy one of the true best in the NFL, but he shows here that he certainly has the qualities necessary for long-term success.