The New York Jets are on their way to the Windy City as they prepare to face the Chicago Bears this week. Interestingly enough, the Jets are playing against Matt Nagy, who the team coveted years ago.
According to Manish Mehta of The New York Daily News, the Jets wanted to hire Nagy as their offensive coordinator in 2017 following the retirement of Chan Gailey.
Sources: Todd Bowles wanted to hire Matt Nagy to be the #Jets offensive coordinator in 2017.
(Nagy’s father was Bowles’ high school coach).
Here’s why it didn’t work out: https://t.co/zMnO1LXz4X pic.twitter.com/XV5E3ZBTMZ
— Manish Mehta (@MMehtaNYDN) October 25, 2018
Nagy, who was then the offensive coordinator of the Kansas City Chiefs, was a priority signing for head coach Todd Bowles. The thing is, Nagy did not interview with the Jets, as Chiefs head coach Andy Reid denied their request and then would surrender play-calling duties to Nagy shortly afterwards. The rest is history, as Kansas City’s offense became one of the best in the league once Nagy took the reigns.
Bowles has a longtime friendship with the now-Chicago head coach, as he played under Nagy’s father, Bill, at Elizabeth High School, where they won the state title in 1980.
Small world: Bowles played at Elizabeth (NJ) HS for the father of Bears coach Matt Nagy. TB: "I've known Matt pretty much his whole life." Bowles also targeted him for OC job in 2017, but was rebuffed by the Chiefs. #Jets
— Rich Cimini (@RichCimini) October 25, 2018
After the Nagy plan fell through, the Jets contacted the Eagles to interview quarterbacks coach John DeFilippo, but were also denied. New York would settle on John Morton, who the team fired following the 2017 season.
Bowles knew of the offensive intellect Nagy possessed back in 2017, and tried his best to bring him into New York. However, so did Reid, which is why he declined the interview, and in part, is why Nagy is now the man in charge in Chicago.
Oh, what could have been for the Jets.
