Matt Nagy giving up play calling shows Bears could still contend in NFC

Matt Nagy could save his job in Chicago be relinquishing the play-calling .

There might not be a coach more on the hot seat entering Week 10 than Matt Nagy. After a promising 5-1, Chicago dropped the last three games, including an embarrassing 24-17 defeat to Tennessee on the road Sunday afternoon.

With the season on the line at 5-4, Nagy knew change was coming. Here’s hoping this one is enough to keep him employed in 2021.

Nagy announced Friday that he would turn over the playcalling duties to offensive coordinator Bill Lazor in place of Monday’s game against the Minnesota Vikings. Since being named the head coach back in 2018, the third-year coach has yet to allow his offensive coordinator to call the shots on offense.

“Is it hard to do? Absolutely,” Nagy said, according to ESPN’s Jeff Dickerson. “I’d be lying to every one of you guys if I told you that this is easy. It’s not easy. It’s one of my favorite parts of coaching. I love calling plays. I love it. I love it.”

Nagy, a disciple of offensive mastermind Andy Reid, needs to find some spark on offense entering the second half of the season. Part of the concerns is due to poor quarterback play from Nick Foles and Mitchell Trubisky this season. That however is only a fraction of the concerns as the offense fails to execute the plays at hand, leading to tensions between all involved.

Is Bill Lazor the best man for the job?

Chicago’s offensive identity is abysmal at best. The team ranks in the bottom five in yards per play (4.81), point per game, (19.8) and yards per pass (5.71). They also are the Titans of offensive third-down conversions, connecting a stifling 32.3% of the time.

Lazor has spent time as the play-caller for both the Miami Dolphins and Cincinnati Bengals over the past five seasons. His numbers calling the shots aren’t positive, having his best season in 2014 with the 14th ranked offense in Miami. Lazor also had the worst-ranked unit during his first season with the Bengals in 2018.

The NFC North race has tightened up over the past three weeks. On a two-game win streak, Minnesota is looking to capitalize on offense against the 16th-ranked Bears’ defensive front and remain a game behind Chicago in the division. Meanwhile, the Bears’ next three games all are against divisional opponents, meaning they could go from playoff qualifier to looking for a new head coach before the month is concluded.

If Lazor works, Nagy will be safe another week. However, if he hopes to remain the Bears’ coach long-term, his days of making the final call need to be finished in the Windy City.