fter another end of game debacle Thanksgiving Day, in front of the whole world, the writing was on the wall for Chicago Bears Head Coach Matt Eberflus.
Well, it was for everyone EXCEPT Eberflus.
The Chicago Bears have dismissed head coach Matt Eberflus, sources confirmed to ESPN’s Adam Schefter on Friday. This decision follows Thursday’s 23-20 loss to the Detroit Lions, which marked the Bears’ sixth consecutive defeat.
This morning, after meeting with [chairman] George [H. McCaskey] and [President and CEO] Kevin [Warren], we informed Matt of our decision to move in a different direction with the leadership of our football team and the head-coaching position,” Bears general manager Ryan Poles said in a statement. “I thank Matt for his hard work, professionalism and dedication to our organization. We extend our gratitude for his commitment to the Chicago Bears and wish him and his family the best moving forward.”
“I support Ryan and the decision that was made this morning. We understand how imperative the head-coaching role is for building and maintaining a championship-caliber team, leading our players and our organization,” said Warren. “Our fans have stood by us and persevered through every challenge, and they deserve better results. Our organizational and operational structure is strong, focused, aligned and energized for the future.”
Eberflus’ firing comes amid a challenging season that has seen the team struggle in close games and suffer critical mistakes, including a key mismanagement of the clock in the final seconds of Thursday’s loss.
A Tough Season and Record of Close Losses for Chicago Bears
Thursday’s loss brought Eberflus’ record to 14-32 in nearly three seasons with the Bears. The defeat also extended his record to 5-19 in one-score games.
That 5-19 record the worst of any coach in NFL history with at least 20 one-score games.
This pattern of near-misses has plagued the Bears throughout Eberflus’ tenure.
“We did enough as players to win this game,” said Bears wide receiver Keenan Allen following the loss. His comments reflect the frustration felt by the team as they continue to fall short in critical situations.
Eberflus, who had expressed confidence in his ability to coach the Bears against the San Francisco 49ers on December 8, was informed of his firing hours after holding a Zoom news conference.
“I’m confident I’ll be working to San Francisco and coaching that game,” Eberflus told reporters Friday via ESPN’s Courtney Cronin and Greg Braggs Jr. of CHGO Sports.
Interim offensive coordinator Thomas Brown has been named the interim head coach for the remainder of the season.
A Series of Heartbreaking Defeats
Eberflus’ tenure was marked by several heartbreaking losses, particularly in games that came down to the final moments. The loss to the Lions was the latest example of Chicago’s struggles in high-pressure situations.
With 32 seconds left and the ball at the Lions’ 41-yard line, rookie quarterback Caleb Williams had a chance to tie the game. However, without a timeout, Williams threw a deep pass that fell incomplete as time expired. Eberflus defended the decision not to call a timeout after the sack. He explained that he hoped to set up a potential game-tying field goal.
Earlier in the season, the Bears suffered an 18-15 road loss to the Washington Commanders in Week 8, capped by a tipped 52-yard Hail Mary pass. In Week 11, a blocked 46-yard field goal by Cairo Santos cost the Bears a 20-19 loss to the Green Bay Packers. Santos’ block marked his third of the season, the most in the league.
The Bears also suffered a 30-27 overtime loss to the Minnesota Vikings in Week 12 after a dramatic fourth-quarter rally fell short.
Eberflus’ Coaching Changes and Staff Departures
Throughout his tenure, Eberflus made several changes to his coaching staff in an attempt to address the Bears’ struggles. He fired offensive coordinator Shane Waldron ahead of Week 11 and replaced him with Thomas Brown. Waldron was the second offensive coordinator fired in a single season, following Luke Getsy’s dismissal in January. In total, Eberflus made eight coaching changes during his two years with the team.
Before joining the Chicago Bears, Eberflus was the defensive coordinator for the Indianapolis Colts. He helped guide the Colts to top-10 defenses for three seasons. He took over the Bears’ defensive playcalling duties in 2023. Chicago finished with the NFL’s No. 1 run defense.
However, this season, the defense has taken a step back, ranking 30th in rushing yards allowed and 31st in yards per game allowed.
Looking Ahead
Brown will take over to guide the team through the remainder of the 2024 season. The team will also continue to focus on developing rookie quarterback Caleb Williams. Williams has thrown 232 passes without an interception— the longest streak for a rookie in NFL history.
The next head coach will be tasked with continuing Williams’ development and leading the team through a critical phase in its rebuilding process. Who will it be?
That is the important question.
Washington based CEO & Founder of LJC. Media covering politics, sports, & entertainment A seven-time Emmy Award-winning TV producer, director, and podcast host. Digital Director and Washington Bureau Chief at News Talk Florida & The Daily Cable
