Why top NFL free agents find the Nagy way so appealing in Chicago
It's difficult to say if the offensive difference makers the Bears have added in free agency are more smitten with coach Matt Nagy's offense or his infectious enthusiasm. But it's safe to say both played a role in making Chicago their ultimate destination.
"I had a few interests in free agency, but it was just Nagy's offense, his creativity and the things that he did when he was with the Chiefs," said slot receiver Taylor Gabriel. "(Chiefs WR) Tyreek Hill, and the things that he did with him to move him around and get him open, it was a no-brainer for me."
Gabriel might not duplicate Hill's two-year totals of 136 catches, 1,776 receiving yards and an 8.0-yard average on 41 carries with 16 combined touchdowns, but the multidimensional way in which he was used is appealing.
Gabriel heard firsthand about the Nagy offense from former Abilene Christian teammate Charcandrick West, a Chiefs running back.
"He would talk about it all the time and how he loved the different schemes and how (Nagy) was just a doctor at creating an offense and getting people open," Gabriel said. "That was just one thing I got from him, and (also) just watching film. If you go on YouTube and look up 'Kansas City offense,' you see different things they did and how Tyreek Hill got open and how he made those explosive plays."
For pass-catching tight end Trey Burton, in addition to cashing in on the free-agency market, it was coming to a new team with more opportunities and not having to learn a new offense because he was in a similar scheme in Philadelphia. He also noticed the huge numbers put up by Chiefs Pro Bowl TE Travis Kelce.
"(That was) a huge influence," Burton said. "(There are) a couple things here and there that they did in Kansas City that we did differently in Philadelphia, but 95 percent of the playbook I already know. So that's huge."
Pro Bowl WR Allen Robinson likes what he sees from the ways Nagy's offense in Kansas City attacked opponents.
"(It's) just the versatility of it," Robinson said. "You see a lot of big plays, you see some dink-and-dunk plays, you see everybody being involved. It's something that just looked fun to play in."
Nagy's offense is aggressive and exciting, and apparently so is his pitch to players.
"Coach Nagy's one of those guys who just breathes positive energy," Robinson said. "He's made me feel welcome; confident in being here, confident in the direction that this organization is going."
Along with a familiarity with Nagy's offense, Burton was attracted by other similarities to the Eagles' organization that made him feel at home.
"I remember the first conversation we had," Burton said. "(Nagy) had so much juice on the phone. It kind of brought me back. Him and (Eagles coach) Doug (Pederson) are really similar, and I'm really, really (eager) to get to know him a little bit more."
Gabriel points out that Nagy, while aggressive, isn't a high-pressure salesman.
"Smooth dude, man," Gabriel said. "I like his swag a little bit. It's nice. Just his offensive mind. Meeting him the first time, it felt like I knew him for a long time. I feel like we're going to gel together and create a lot of things and create a lot of mismatches, so I'm excited."
That's an emotion that seems to be catching around Halas Hall.
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