NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Matt Nagy, who worked with Mike Borgonzi with the Chiefs for eight seasons, was thought by many to be a shoo-in as the next Titans' coach.
The Titans and Mike Borgonzi hired Robert Saleh instead.
Late Monday night, ESPN was already pumping a pro-Amy Adams Strunk, anti-Borgonzi narrative that the GM wanted Nagy and ownership moved him toward Saleh.
I know this not to be true.
Unfortunately for Nagy, it leaves him as less of a victim, deserted by his friend. Instead, it means he was beaten out by a different personality of the sort the Titans need more.
Remember, Chad Brinker has strong feelings for his Green Bay friend Jon-Eric Sulllivan when hiring a GM a year ago, feelings likely akin to what Borgonzi has for Nagy.
Ultimately, the president of football operations made a tough call to Sullivan to tell him he had to go with Borgonzi.
Now Borgonzi did the same, passing over his friend for someone who looked like a better option.
Excuse me if I don't rush to give credit to the owner who causes most of the organization's problems rather than the football man who's had a pretty good first year and did all the difficult sorting out.
Nagy was not as terrible a candidate as he was painted to be.
He posted a 34-31 record over four seasons as coach of the Bears from 2018-2021 with Mitch Trubisky and Justin Fields as his quarterbacks. He returned to the Chiefs as offensive coordinator after he was let go, and Chicago got worse under Matt Eberflus (a .304 winning percentage compared to .523).
Critics would have claimed his hire was predestined, and that a process including 15 other interviews and a Monday visit to team headquarters by Saleh was all window dressing as Borgonzi reached a foregone conclusion.
But he didn't.
Nagy had an extensive report done on himself regarding his failings and has discussed a plan for improvement as a second-chance head coach. He does not intend to call plays and will serve more as a CEO.
He had virtual interviews with the Ravens, Raiders and Cardinals -- three jobs that remain open, though none have called him back for another conversation so far.
His contract in Kansas City is up, and they are looking at replacements for the non-play-calling coordinator job. That may be the sort of job he's in line for again as the rest of the head coaching jobs fill out around the NFL and staffs are pieced together.