Matt Nagy
Head Coach — Chicago Bears
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About Matt Nagy
Matt Nagy coached the Bears from 2018 to 2021 and left behind two things: a visor and a catchphrase. "Be You" was his coaching mantra, printed on t-shirts, repeated in press conferences, and eventually wielded against him by a fanbase that watched his offense produce some of the worst football in the NFL. The visor became iconic for all the wrong reasons. Nagy would stand on the sideline, visor pulled low, calling plays that looked like he was selecting them at random from a bingo cage. He won Coach of the Year in his first season when the defense carried the team to 12-4, then spent the next three years proving that the award was entirely about Khalil Mack and the defense.
The offensive schemes under Nagy were a specific kind of painful. He came from the Andy Reid coaching tree, which is supposed to mean creative play design and quarterback-friendly concepts. Instead, Chicago got jet sweeps on third and long, screens on third and longer, and a general approach to the passing game that suggested Nagy had lost the second half of his playbook and was working from memory. The "Be You" slogan became a punchline as the losses piled up. Fans started posting it after every bad play call. "Be You, Matt. Be the guy who calls a screen on third and fifteen."
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the 'Be You' era of Bears football?
Matt Nagy's coaching tenure, roughly 2018 to 2021. 'Be You' was his personal philosophy, a vague motivational statement that was supposed to encourage players to be themselves. It appeared on merchandise, on the walls of Halas Hall, and in every press conference. As the losses mounted and the offense got worse, 'Be You' became the most ironic slogan in Bears history. Fans turned it into a meme that meant the opposite of what Nagy intended.
Why are Matt Nagy's play calls so frequently mocked?
Because they were bad in specific, memorable ways. A screen pass on third and fourteen. A reverse to the slowest player on the field. A timeout before a timeout before a challenge flag. Nagy's play calling had a chaotic quality that made fans feel like they were watching someone play Madden for the first time. The gap between his Andy Reid pedigree and his actual results was so wide that it became a core part of his identity in Bears lore.
Last updated: April 2026