
If the NFL is a “what have you done for me lately” business, the Kansas City Chiefs just provided the latest, loudest example. Despite two Super Bowl rings on his fingers from his second stint with the team, Offensive Coordinator Matt Nagy is officially out.
The news dropped Friday morning, confirming what many around the league suspected was coming. After a decade of dominance, the Chiefs finally hit a wall in 2025, missing the postseason for the first time in the Patrick Mahomes era. And when the dust settled on a 6-11 season, changes weren’t just expected; they were necessary.
Forever a Super Bowl champ. Thanks for everything, Coach Nagy! pic.twitter.com/GvrpS7WBCs
— Kansas City Chiefs (@Chiefs) January 23, 2026
It’s hard to call a tenure that included two Lombardis a failure, and the Chiefs didn’t treat it as such on the way out. The team’s official social media send-off was classy, dubbing him “Forever a Super Bowl Champ.” But let’s be real: the vibes had shifted.
Nagy, who returned to KC in 2022 after his head coaching stint with the Chicago Bears, was supposed to keep the offensive machine humming. And for a while, he did. But this past season was a different beast. The offense looked disjointed. The firepower wasn’t there. And when Mahomes went down with a torn ACL in Week 15, the wheels didn’t just fall off; the whole vehicle seemed to disintegrate.
It wasn’t entirely Nagy’s fault, but in Kansas City, the standard is perfection, or at least a deep playoff run. Anything less feels like a crisis. With Nagy’s contract expiring, the front office decided it was time for a fresh voice. Or, more accurately, a familiar one.
In a move that feels like getting the band back together for a reunion tour, the Chiefs are bringing back Eric Bieniemy to replace Nagy. If you listen closely, you can hear a collective sigh of relief from Chiefs Kingdom.
Bieniemy, who spent 10 seasons under Andy Reid and was the OC for two of the franchise’s Super Bowl wins, brings a no-nonsense intensity that some argue has been missing. His offenses were juggernauts. They were scary. They put up numbers that made fantasy football managers weep with joy.
The hope is that Bieniemy can rediscover that magic, even as questions swirl about Mahomes’ recovery timeline for next season. It’s a massive “if,” but if anyone knows how to maximize this specific roster and work within Reid’s complex system, it’s Bieniemy.
So, where does Nagy go from here? Don’t cry for him just yet. He’s a well-respected offensive mind with a jewelry collection most coaches only dream of. He’s already been linked to the Philadelphia Eagles’ offensive coordinator opening, and in a league desperate for offensive innovation, he won’t stay unemployed for long.
For the Chiefs, this move signals that they aren’t content with a “rebuilding” year. They want to reload. Bringing back Bieniemy is a statement that they intend to get back to their bully-ball ways.
The 2025 season was a wake-up call. The dynasty took a hit. Mahomes got hurt. The streak ended. But by swapping Nagy for Bieniemy, Reid is betting that the path forward is actually a path backward—to a time when the Chiefs’ offense was the most feared unit in football.
More must-reads:
+
Get the latest news and rumors, customized to your favorite sports and teams. Emailed daily. Always free!