A Thanksgiving Meltdown: Inside the Bears’ Locker Room Chaos and Matt Eberflus’ Firing
CHICAGO — Thanksgiving is supposed to be a time for gratitude and togetherness, but for the Chicago Bears, it was anything but. After a gut-wrenching 23-20 loss to the Detroit Lions at Ford Field, the Bears’ locker room turned into a boiling pot of frustration, confusion, and, ultimately, change. The fallout from that game not only marked the Bears’ sixth straight loss but also sealed the fate of head coach Matt Eberflus, who was fired less than 24 hours later. Let’s dive into the chaos that unfolded and the decisions that led to this historic midseason firing.
Kevin Warren’s Postgame Presence
As the Bears players packed up their belongings in the visitors’ locker room, team president and CEO Kevin Warren lingered longer than usual. Warren was seen near quarterback Caleb Williams‘ locker, deep in conversation with Ted Crews, the Bears’ special adviser and chief administrative officer. Crews, who has a long history with general manager Ryan Poles from their time in Kansas City, appeared to be part of a larger discussion about the team’s direction.
Warren also spoke individually with several players, delivering a clear message: “We need to be better.” According to a team source, Warren assured the players that he was committed to making that happen. But the tension in the room was palpable, and the events that followed only added fuel to the fire.
The Final Drive That Broke the Bears
The Bears had clawed their way back from a 16-0 halftime deficit, only to see their hopes dashed in the final moments. With the ball at the Detroit 41-yard line and about 30 seconds left, Williams was sacked. Despite having one timeout remaining, Eberflus failed to call it, leaving the Bears without a chance to set up a potential game-tying field goal. The clock ran out, and so did the patience of many within the organization.
Eberflus’ inability to manage late-game situations had been a recurring issue. His 5-19 record in one-score games is the worst in NFL history for a coach with at least 20 such games. This latest blunder was the final straw for a team that had grown weary of the same mistakes.
Locker Room Erupts
After the game, Eberflus attempted to address the team, but his words fell on deaf ears. According to one player, the tone of his message was about how the team had battled but come up short. That’s when cornerback Jaylon Johnson couldn’t hold back any longer. Interrupting Eberflus, Johnson shouted obscenities, venting his frustration over the team’s repeated failures.
Eberflus cut his speech short and walked out of the room. Johnson later explained his outburst during an interview on WSCR radio in Chicago, saying, “Part of what I said after the game was I’ve been losing for five years. I feel like a high-level player like myself, after a certain point, losing games how we’ve been losing games, somebody has to express something.”
Other players echoed the sentiment. Tight end Cole Kmet admitted, “You only want to hear it so much. Coach is going to say what he’s going to say. At the end of the day, we all realize we want the results. We just haven’t had the results.”
The Decision to Fire Eberflus
Warren’s presence in the locker room wasn’t unusual, but this time, it felt different. By Friday morning, the writing was on the wall. Warren, Poles, and team chairman George McCaskey met at Halas Hall to discuss Eberflus’ future. Despite Eberflus conducting his usual day-after-game press conference via Zoom, the decision had already been made. By midday, Eberflus was informed of his dismissal, making him the first head coach in Bears history to be fired during a season.
Warren later admitted the process could have been handled better, saying, “In retrospect, could we have done it better? Absolutely, and I’ll be the first one to raise my hand, yes.”
What’s Next for the Bears?
With Eberflus out, interim offensive coordinator Thomas Brown has been promoted to interim head coach. Brown, who has been instrumental in Williams’ recent improvement, will continue to call plays while transitioning to the sideline. Under Brown’s guidance, Williams has thrown five touchdowns in the past two games and set an NFL rookie record with 232 consecutive passes without an interception.
The Bears have five games left this season, and while Brown will be evaluated, the team is also eyeing other candidates for the permanent head coaching role. Names like Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson and Washington Commanders OC Kliff Kingsbury are reportedly on the Bears’ radar.
Key Takeaways
- The Bears’ 23-20 loss to the Lions marked their sixth straight defeat and highlighted ongoing issues with late-game management.
- Matt Eberflus was fired less than 24 hours after the game, becoming the first Bears head coach to be dismissed midseason.
- Interim head coach Thomas Brown will lead the team for the final five games, with a focus on developing rookie quarterback Caleb Williams.
- The Bears are already considering candidates for their next head coach, aiming for someone who can be a “leader of men.”
As the Bears look to the future, one thing is clear: the status quo is no longer acceptable. With a talented young quarterback in Caleb Williams and a roster full of potential, the next head coach will have the opportunity—and the pressure—to turn things around. For now, the Bears and their fans can only hope that brighter days are ahead.
Originally Written by: Courtney Cronin
