The Bear’s Den: January 10, 2018

BEAR DOWN, CHICAGO BEARS, BEAR DOWN!!!!

BEARRRSSSS

DeWitt: Insight on Matt Nagy's Introductory Press Conference - Da Bears Brothers - Take a listen as Da Bears Brothers discuss Matt Nagy's first press conference as the head coach of the Chicago Bears, and explain why he aced it.

Ortman: Brian Urlacher - First-Ballot Hall of Famer Regardless of Ray Lewis - Da Bears Brothers - Hall of Fame classes rarely include two players, but this year should be an exception to the rule as Brian Urlacher is an obvious choice for voters.

Wiederer: Curtain rises on Matt Nagy era - 'Above everything, he’s a superb teacher' - Chicago Tribune - The Bears chose a new direction Monday, hiring Chiefs offensive coordinator Matt Nagy to become their new head coach. Brad Childress, a longtime offense-oriented coach who has worked closely with Nagy over the last five seasons, sees a "superb teacher" and a rising star.

Wiedman: Three Reasons Nagy Can Take Bears All the Way - Our Turf Football - Official Bears Reporter Wanda Wiedman talks about why she thinks new head coach Matt Nagy has all the right stuff to take the team straight to the top.

Haugh: Ex-Bear Doug Plank, Matt Nagy's Arena League coach, on hire 'He's a leader' - Chicago Tribune - Former Bear Doug Plank applauded the hiring of Matt Nagy and appreciated reminiscing about his days coaching Nagy, who took over as the Force’s starter in the fifth game of the 2005 season after an injury to Jim Kubiak

Rosenthal: As Bears introduce Matt Nagy, a reminder: You’ve heard this all before - Chicago Tribune - A look back at previous press conferences when Bears introduced or dismissed a head coach.

Rosenbloom: New Bears coach Matt Nagy comes off looking and sounding like a leader - Chicago Tribune - Matt Nagy sounds like a young coach the way Ryan Pace sounds like a young general manager. Confident. Direct. Forceful. Excited. Energetic. He used the word “trust’’ a lot.

Winners and losers from Matt Nagy's Bears press conference: Ryan Pace's hair, Jon Gruden, neckties and more - Chicago Tribune - Winners and losers from Matt Nagy's first press conference as the new Bears coach.

Biggs: Where does Vic Fangio fit in as Matt Nagy begins filling out his staff? - Chicago Tribune - If the Bears are optimistic about their chances of retaining defensive coordinator Vic Fangio, they did a good job of masking it.

Wiederer: Playoff loss brings scars, motivation for new Bears coach Matt Nagy - Chicago Tribune - New Bears coach Matt Nagy had a promising run as the Chiefs' play caller over the final month of the regular season. But then came a stunning playoff loss to the Titans with a scoreless second half that left Nagy to own his mistakes.

Wiederer: For new Bears coach Matt Nagy, connection with Mitch Trubisky means everything - Chicago Tribune - Chicago Bears general manager Ryan Pace insisted on Wednesday that Matt Nagy's ability to connect with quarterback Mitch Trubisky wasn't the sole reason he was selected as the new head coach. But make no mistake, Nagy's bond and productivity with Trubisky will define his tenure.

Haugh: You know leadership when you see it - and it arrived Tuesday at Halas Hall in Matt Nagy - Chicago Tribune - For the first time in way too long, a Bears coach connected with his audience and commanded his news conference in a way that made it easy to imagine Matt Nagy leading the Bears out of the hole the franchise has dug for itself.

Campbell: Why Ryan Pace picked Matt Nagy to help lead Mitch Trubisky and Bears - Chicago Tribune - Matt Nagy’s first full day as Bears coach included the requisite introductions and a reunion. At one point he entered the weight room and found Mitch Trubisky, the quarterback he was hired to develop.

Biggs: When it comes to details, Matt Nagy nailed it in Bears' introduction - Chicago Tribune - In his introductory news conference, new Bears coach Matt Nagy was energetic but real, dynamic but humble, animated but down to earth. He didn’t talk in circles. He didn’t seek cliches for crutches.

Jahns: In Matt Nagy, Bears have QB mind for their promising QB Mitch Trubisky - Chicago Sun-Times - Matt Nagy likely stood out for several reasons to the Bears beyond his immediate availability following the Chiefs’ wildcard loss.

Finley: Five questions Matt Nagy must answer soon as new Bears head coach - Chicago Sun-Times - New Bears head coach Matt Nagy will be introduced at 1 p.m. Tuesday. Here are five questions he must answer in his first few days in charge:

Potash: Bears coach Matt Nagy on Chiefs' meltdown vs. Titans: 'I'll grow from it' - Chicago Sun-Times - “For me, that was a failure in my book. But I’ll grow from it and I’ll learn from it. I promise you that."

Morrissey: Matt Nagy is a breath of fresh air; now, can he coach? - Chicago Sun Times - Can an uplifting coach fire up a fan base whose flame has been doused again and again? Sure, for a while. But the new Bears play-caller has to win.

Potash: Bears GM Ryan Pace finds a match in Matt Nagy - all they have to do now is win - Chicago Sun-Times - How does Pace know Nagy’s success as a quarterbacks coach and non play-calling coordinator indicates he can become a successful head coach in the NFL?

Jahns: An inside look at the Bears' interview and hiring of new coach Matt Nagy - Chicago Sun-Times - It took Bears general manager Ryan Pace a week to find his new coach, and he reached that decision in less than 24 hours in Kansas City.

Finley: New Bears coach Matt Nagy sees himself in 'driven' QB Mitch Trubisky - Chicago Sun-Times - Matt Nagy’s last text message to Mitch Trubisky was one of congratulations after the Bears traded up to draft him No. 2 overall in April.

Finley: Bears talking to Vic Fangio about coordinator job, will 'let this play out' - Chicago Sun-Times - New head coach Matt Nagy knows that keeping Vic Fangio as the team's defensive coordinator is an important step in his first few days in charge.

Finley: Bears introduce Matt Nagy as head coach - Chicago Sun-Times - The Bears are introducing head coach Matt Nagy on Tuesday afternoon at Halas Hall. Follow along with all the latest developments here:

Rozner: Chicago Bears go about winning hearts and minds again - Daily Herald - New Chicago Bears head coach Matt Nagy had a good first day. Now comes the hard part.

LeGere: For Nagy, partnership with Pace key to Chicago Bears head coach job - Daily Herald - Chicago Bears general manager Ryan Pace introduced his new head coach, 39-year-old Matt Nagy, on Tuesday at Halas Hall, calling him the "best leader" they could find for the franchise. Nagy says he's excited to work closely with Pace in building a winning team.

Bears Coaching Confidential: Matt Nagy - NBC Sports Chicago - Get to know new Bears head coach Matt Nagy in our final edition of Bears Coaching Confidential.

SportsTalk Live Podcast: Where does this all leave Vic Fangio? - NBC Sports Chicago - Bears, Bears and more Bears opinion and analysis on this edition of the SportsTalk Live Podcast. Now that Matt Nagy has been hired, what happens to Vic Fangio?

Under Center Podcast Special with Mike Williams, Matt Nagy’s high school coach - NBC Sports Chicago - Sarah Lauch had a chance to interview Matt Nagy’s high school coach, Mike Williams, who said his former player is a “quarterback guru” who will be a great fit for Mitchell Trubisky.

Duber: The best coaching candidate Andy Reid's ever had? Matt Nagy thanks mentor after receiving high praise - NBC Sports Chicago - Andy Reid called Matt Nagy the best coaching candidate he's ever had. So the new Bears head coach took time to respond to that high praise.

Stankevitz: 'I called every single play:' Matt Nagy's accountability for Chiefs' collapse resonates with Bears - NBC Sports Chicago - Matt Nagy took accountability for the Chiefs' playoff collapse, saying it was a "failure" and explaning that he'd learn from it as he takes over with the Bears.

Mullen: Matt Nagy brings critical QB-action skillset to Bears where it is needed most - NBC Sports Chicago - The Bears are getting a head coach in Matt Nagy with a much-needed quarterback-action skillset.

Hub Arkush: Chicago Bears GM Ryan Pace gets his guy in Matt Nagy - Pro Football Weekly - Whether Nagy can retain Fangio should help determine whether he's right guy for Bears

Arthur Arkush: Matt Nagy, latest in long line of Andy Reid disciples, ready to show what he's learned for Chicago Bears - Pro Football Weekly - Nagy shared some of Reid's methods on QB development and leading in introduction as Bears new coach

Edholm: Matt Nagy called Kansas City Chiefs’ plays, and that's a good thing for new Chicago Bears coach - Pro Football Weekly - In admitting his mistakes and taking ownership of them, Nagy took an important first step on Day 1

Hub Arkush: Nagy makes himself at home at Halas Hall - Pro Football Weekly - New Bears coach leaves good first impression

Kaberon: Nagy part of a strong line of coaches in the Andy Reid tree - ChicagoBears.com - The NFL coaching tree of the Chiefs’ Andy Reid is filled with current head coaches, including the latest addition in new Bears hire Matt Nagy.

Mayer: Nagy’s experience should benefit Trubisky - ChicagoBears.com - Setbacks as a player drove Matt Nagy into coaching, and those experiences should benefit his newest pupil—Bears quarterback Mitchell Trubisky.

Mayer: Nagy showed Bears substance, character in interview - ChicagoBears.com - New Bears coach Matt Nagy showed general manager Ryan Pace substance and character during a job interview one day after suffering a difficult playoff loss with the Chiefs.

Mayer: Nagy displays confidence, passion in introductory presser - ChicagoBears.com - Speaking to the media Tuesday for the first time as Bears head coach, Matt Nagy displayed confidence, passion, sincerity and humor. “It’s a dream and I’m still pinching myself,” he said.

Mayer's Chalk Talk: Did Trubisky play role in coaching search? - ChicagoBears.com - Senior writer Larry Mayer discusses whether quarterback Mitchell Trubisky was involved in the coaching search, defensive coordinator Vic Fangio's status and Matt Nagy's responsibilities with the Chiefs.

Perez: 2018 NFL Mock Draft - Bears add stud LB in Round 1 - Bears Wire - The Chicago Bears add a blue-chip inside linebacker in this latest 2018 NFL Mock Draft

Brian Urlacher Staying Even Keeled As Finalist For Pro Football Hall Of Fame - CBS Chicago - “I don’t want to get too high, too low," Urlacher says.

Emma: Bears Envision Matt Nagy’s Creativity Leading Offense To Full Potential - CBS Chicago - Looking at a three-down sequence that reveals what Nagy could bring for the Bears.

Emma: Matt Nagy, Bears In Talks With Vic Fangio To Retain Him As Defensive Coordinator - CBS Chicago - Nagy has already spoken with Fangio and is working to configure his new Bears coaching staff.

Emma: Report - Bears’ Fangio Top Candidate For Packers Defensive Coordinator - CBS Chicago - Fangio's contract with the Bears expired Tuesday, making him available for other coaching opportunities.

Bernstein: Matt Nagy’s First Impression Matters For Now - CBS Chicago - Some openness could begin to rebuild trust among fans hardened into cynicism in the John Fox era.

Emma: Ryan Pace - George McCaskey, Ted Phillips ‘Valuable’ In Coaching Search - CBS Chicago - Having McCaskey and Phillips sit in on interviews allowed the Bears to expedite their hiring of Matt Nagy.

Emma: New Bears Coach Matt Nagy Owns Chiefs’ Wild-Card Loss - “Going To Learn From It’ - CBS Chicago - Upon meeting with the Bears on Sunday morning, Nagy was quick to accept the blame for the Chiefs' loss.

Emma: For Matt Nagy, A Journey Marked By Belief Found Its Way In Chicago - CBS Chicago - Being introduced as the Bears' head coach, Nagy kept finding himself looking back at a decade of opportunities.

Sweeney: Former KC Chiefs OC Matt Nagy called all the offensive plays in the second half Saturday - Arrowhead Pride - Former Kansas City Chiefs offensive coordinator and now Chicago Bears head coach Matt Nagy said he was calling all the offensive plays in the second half of the Chiefs’ 22-21 loss to the Tennessee...

PFF grades Trubisky higher than Manning, Palmer, Newton, Watson & Cutler in Final QB Rankings - Pro Football Focus - After grading every player, specifically quarterbacks, on every play of every game, PFF gives you the final regular season rankings of every NFL quarterback to log significant snaps for their respective team. Ken's Note: On the one hand, who would have thunk it? On the other hand, it's PFF who tend to rate players by throwing darts at graphs on the walls, so... yeah, there's that.

Florio: Matt Nagy went straight from heartbreak to a new job – ProFootballTalk - After the Chiefs blew a 21-3 lead in a game during which Matt Nagy called all of the offensive plays, leaving Nagy "numb," the Bears offered to delay by a day or two his interview, in order to allow him to process the disappointing end to his team's season.

Thompson: 10 things to know about the new Bears coach - Chicago Tribune - Ten things to know about new Bears head coach Matt Nagy, the former Chiefs offensive coordinator.

POLISH SAUSAGE

Sweeney: Chiefs name Eric Bieniemy offensive coordinator - Arrowhead Pride - The Kansas City Chiefs have an offensive coordinator. The Chiefs have named Eric Bieniemy as the replacement for Matt Nagy.

Florio: G.M. hiring more and more about who you know, not what you can do – ProFootballTalk - Most key jobs in the NFL are driven by relationships. Who you know, who you've worked with, who you're trusted by, and/or who you're related to. But the process has become even more detached from merit when it comes to General Manger positions.

Eagles Sign S Harold Jones-Quartey To Practice Squad, Release DT Winston Craig - NFLTradeRumors.co - Jones-Quartey joins former Bear DeVante Bausby on the Eagles PS.

Wagner's NFC North Rundown: Bears give the keys to Nagy - Acme Packing Company - Green Bay moved quickly to fill several of its front office and coaching roles, while Chicago officially landed its new head coach.

KNOW THY ENEMY

Burke: Packers will hire Mike Pettine as defensive coordinator, per report - Acme Packing Company - According to a report from ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Green Bay Packers are planning on hiring former Cleveland Browns head coach Mike Pettine as their defensive coordinator.

Reisman: Matt Patricia, Jim Bob Cooter meet during Detroit Lions interview process - Pride Of Detroit - Are the Lions planning on keeping Jim Bob Cooter around?

Birkett: Detroit Lions coach search - Will Belichick coaching tree bear fruit? - Detroit Free Press - Ex-Belichick assistants Bill O'Brien, Josh McDaniels, Eric Mangini and Romeo Crennel have combined to win 40 percent of games as NFL head coaches

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT ON WINDY CITY GRIDIRON

Zeglinski: Windy City Gridiron Nagy-Mania roundtable - Excitement level - Windy City Gridiron - In part one of a wide-spanning discussion, the WCG staff gets down to what excites us about the Bears' new head coach.

Wiltfong: Ten Thoughts on the NFL - Windy City Gridiron - Give our Thoughts on the NFL a gander, and make sure you throw some of yours in the comment section. This is an audience participation article!

Zeglinski: Matt Nagy - “You’ve got to be aggressive but calculated about it.” - Windy City Gridiron - Nagy, the 16th head coach in Chicago franchise history, was introduced on Tuesday. From play-calling to Trubisky, some immediate thoughts from his first press conference at Halas Hall.

Staff: Matt Nagy is the Bears’ new coach, but now what? - Windy City Gridiron - Now that the Chicago Bears have a head coach, let’s learn all about him. Also, what’s up with the coaching staff?

Zeglinski: Matt Nagy is everything these Bears could've asked for. Now he just has to win - Windy City Gridiron - Nagy is young, innovative, and energetic. That makes him not only the anti-John Fox, but anti-anything the Bears have previously done at head coach in a long time.

FANPOSTS

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