Head Coach Andy Reid has made a coaching change. He has promoted Brad Childress to the role of Assisstant Head Coach which, by default, makes Matt Nagy the only Offensive Coordinator on staff. Terez Paylor reports:
Andy Reid has promoted Brad Childress to assistant head coach. Matt Nagy is now the sole offensive coordinator.
— Terez A. Paylor (@TerezPaylor) February 13, 2017
At first sight, this appears like a non-move within the organization. Functionally, it could help to simplify the process of calling plays on Sunday. In 2016, the process of play calling seemed exotic at times… juxtaposed to plays that were so obvious or typical that it appeared that a three-headed beast — with one not knowing what the other was doing — was calling the offensive shots. Whether that is a reality or not, I’ve said recently myself, that the Chiefs need to simplify the offensive playbook and this move may be just what the doctor ordered.
At 60 years old, it hard to determine if Brad Childress would like another shot at a head-coaching position in the NFL but, this move seems to be one that leaves that door wide open. While sharing offensive coordinator duties with Nagy was an interesting choice last year when Doug Pederson left to fill the head coaching position in Philadelphia, it didn’t say much for Andy Reid’s confidence that Childress could handle those responsibilities on his own. Then again, he may have simply been wanting Childress to mentor Nagy through that process. I have preferred seeing Childress in his previous advisory capacity so a move to Assistant Head Coach places him right where he should be and perhaps, may take some of the pressure off of Reid in game-day, and clock-management type situations.
Matt Nagy is 38 years old and started as a coaching intern with Andy Reid In Philly in 2008. So, his rise to the sole position of Offensive Coordinator, says a lot that’s positive about this young buck, especially when you consider his age and that it’s only taken him 9 years to reach this summit of his career. Nagy is known for being able to communicate and identify well with the players and perhaps that has something to do with the fact that he’s so close in age (he’s only six years older than Alex Smith).
From kcchiefs.com Head Coach Andy Reid explains:
“Moving Coach Childress into that job was a natural fit. He has been in the National Football League for nearly two decades, he’s been a head coach, and knows the various demands on and off the field. Coach Nagy did a tremendous job last year and grew in his role as the season progressed. He’s a talented coach that I believe will continue to evolve as his responsibilities increase. I’m confident these changes will be beneficial to our coaching staff and our team.”
What do you think? Do you think it’s just meaningless pawn moves on the chessboard of life in the NFL? Or, would you say this might turn out to be somewhat significant?