The Chicago Bears were flagged nine times during Monday night’s loss to the Minnesota Vikings, and one of those penalties came from head coach Matt Nagy.
Nagy was flagged in the first half after a heated dispute about a penalty on safety Deon Bush, who was called for a hit to a defenseless receiver. The Bears had stopped the Vikings on third-and-7 at midfield and should’ve forced a punt. Instead, the penalty gave Minnesota new life on Chicago’s 35-yard line, which led to a Vikings field goal.
“Our guys are fighting their (expletive) off to get off the field, and I saw what happened,” Nagy said. “So I explained my opinion on it, and I don’t regret it.”
A Livid Matt Nagy Gets a Penalty pic.twitter.com/XBzWiSIqWe
— Main Team (@MainTeamSports2) December 21, 2021
Referee Scott Novak explained that Nagy was flagged for using inappropriate language.
“I won’t repeat what was said,” Novak said. “But when it crosses a line and it’s inappropriate, then that’s when we throw a flag.”
Novak also explained the unnecessary roughness call on Bush.
“With a defenseless receiver, the defender is always responsible for avoiding any illegal contact or illegal act,” Novak said. “And when he makes contact with the head, even if he’s going for the ball, it’s still a foul. If he’s attempting to dislodge the ball or intercept, he still cannot make illegal contact, forcibly, to the offensive player, since he’s defenseless.”
