And just like that, the music stopped playing for Matt Nagy.
it was becoming clear in the latter days of the NFL's annual game of musical chairs that Nagy was going to be left without a place to sit once the festivities were over. That much became official on Sunday as the final two teams remaining without a head coach reportedly decided upon their men.
The Las Vegas Raiders and Arizona Cardinals were the only two franchises left to figure out their head coaching selection after a shocking 10 teams flipped the organizational pyramid upside-down this winter. For the Raiders, that meant leaning toward a fresh face in Klint Kubiak to run things, while the Cardinals decided upon Mike LaFleur. That left Nagy and other hopefuls thinking, "Maybe next year."
For Nagy, this hiring cycle has been a cruel one. An early wave of momentum promised great things ahead for the former Kansas City Chiefs offensive coordinator, as he was the favored candidate for the first opportunity available after the Tennessee Titans fired Brian Callahan after Week 5. Unfortunately, that wave carried him only far enough to get an initial interview with a handful of teams before crashing just as quickly s it formed.
The NFL's annual game of coaching musical chairs has stopped and Nagy still doesn't have a place to sit.
The Titans got ahead of every other team hiring a new head coach, but they ended up taking their sweet time under general manager Mike Borgonzi's leadership. Despite the connections from their days in K.C., Nagy failed to cement his second head coaching gig as the Titans decided on Robert Saleh instead.
Other interviews came and went without much fanfare, including an official chat with the Raiders. The Baltimore Ravens also interviewed Nagy, and the Cardinals had reported interest. However, all three teams now have other head coaches—the Ravens went with former L.A. Chargers defensive coordinator Jesse Minter—and Nagy is left looking for work.
Nagy's professional journey is stuck in limbo since even coordinator opportunities are drying up. The Chiefs moved on before he could even find a new home by hiring a friendly face in Eric Bieniemy to serve as offensive coordinator while they shake up Andy Reid's staff following a six-win season. The Philadelphia Eagles also interviewed Nagy for an OC role, but then they hired Sean Mannion in the last week.
Given his experience with the Chiefs, a couple of Super Bowl rings, and previous head coaching experience with the Chicago Bears, it would be silly to think that Nagy will remain unemployed. He's got a great resume, and teams showcased an interest in the first place because he's a quality candidate. Nagy will find meaningful work soon enough, and perhaps a team like the Raiders, who liked Nagy enough to interview him, will bring him back at the coordinator or advisor level.
That said, it's also hard to ignore the fact that Nagy's stock plummeted as it did, a steep fall from odds-on favorite to win the Tennessee job to waiting for someone to call with an offer after every head coach opening has been filled. It just goes to show that nothing is a given as long as the music is playing, and that a seat that looks reserved can easily be filled by someone else.