Bears Coach Nagy Clears COVID-19 Protocol, To Coach In Pittsburgh

Chicago IL

04 November, 2021

1:35 PM

Description

CHICAGO — Chicago Bears coach Matt Nagy is poised to return to the sidelines after enduring what he called one of the most surreal experiences of his professional career. Nagy announced Thursday that he will coach the Bears in their Monday Night Football appearance against the Steelers in Pittsburgh. Nagy, who tested positive for the coronavirus last week, cleared the NFL's COVID-19 protocols, which requires two negative tests before a player or coach who has been vaccinated can return. Nagy divulged Thursday he watched the Bears' 33-22 loss to the San Francisco 49ers from a hotel after declining to get into specifics of where he was while he was away from the team. Nagy said Monday that he remained in contact with players such as rookie quarterback Justin Fields and fill-in coach Chris Tabor before Sunday's home loss, which dropped the Bears to 3-5 on the season. Nagy will run all three of the team's practices this week before the Bears head to Pittsburgh when his team Willa attempt to snap a three-game losing streak. The team also announced that running back David Montgomery, who has been sidelined with a sprained knee, will also return to practice as he prepares to return to the field. Earlier this week, Nagy said that the team's I.T. department set him up with equipment with which he could attend position group meetings virtually and be in on important discussions with coaches and players while he was away. But game day presented its own challenges as he was not permitted to have contact with anyone at Soldier Field. Nagy told reporters Thursday that he was too anxious to eat or drink anything during the game and was forced to watch Sunday's setback from a perspective he wasn't accustomed. "I had no idea what to expect," Nagy said Monday when asked how he handled Sunday's game without being there. "I was on the edge of my seat the entire game and I don't know how to put it into words, but I wanted to be able to be there for the guys and be there with them, but I knew the guys had it. But it was just different. It's something I don't want to go through again."