New York Giants' Theo Johnson will enjoy the nuances of OC Matt Nagy

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New York Giants' Theo Johnson will enjoy the nuances of OC Matt Nagy

New York Giants' Theo Johnson will enjoy the nuances of OC Matt Nagy

Larry Brown Jr, Giants Wire · Giants Wire

Sat, Aug 29, 2026 ·

2 min read

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Thankfully, the shoulder injury sustained by New York Giants tight end Theo Johnson at practice earlier this week was minor. Johnson was a force for the team in 2025, and under the guidance of new offensive coordinator Matt Nagy, Johnson could have his skill set greatly optimized.

Nagy was operative as both an offensive assistant and offensive coordinator under Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid for over seven years. During Nagy's tenure with the Chiefs, the franchise built its offensive identity around the strength of tight end Travis Kelce .

Johnson hasn't yet developed into the prolific player that Kelce is renowned for being, but his 2025 season statistics hint at an uptrend.

In 2025, Johnson posted 45 receptions on 74 targets, a 31-target increase from 2024. Johnson's five touchdown receptions were also worth noting as he played as a prime target for quarterback Jaxson Dart in crucial game moments.

Under Nagy, Johnson can expect to work out of 21-,13-, 12-, and 11-personnel on offense. This will allow Johnson to work interchangeably with teammate Isaiah Likely , who also creates significant mismatches for opposing defenses. Nagy will mix in some misdirection on offense, and Johnson could be the beneficiary of many play-action pass plays.

Despite posting just four wins, the Giants still managed to finish No. 13 in the NFL in yards, 333.5 per game, a valid point of reference for Nagy.

Ultimately, Johnson won't have to be a superhero on offense given the return of wide receiver Malik Nabers and running back Cameron Skattebo . Instead, Johnson will have a chance to play stealthily, as a red-zone threat, and as a hybrid deployed inside of Nagy's multi-faceted strategy.