Chicago Bears Fire Matt Eberflus After Another Heartbreaking Loss
CHICAGO – The winds of change are blowing through the Windy City, and they’ve claimed another victim. The Chicago Bears have officially parted ways with head coach Matt Eberflus, sources told ESPN’s Adam Schefter on Friday. The decision came just one day after a gut-wrenching 23-20 loss to the Detroit Lions, a game marred by clock mismanagement that left fans and analysts scratching their heads.
In a twist of irony, Eberflus held a press conference via Zoom on Friday morning, expressing confidence that he would still be leading the Bears when they face the San Francisco 49ers on Dec. 8. But just hours later, the axe fell. According to sources, interim offensive coordinator Thomas Brown will step in as the team’s interim head coach.
A Season of Close Calls and Crushing Defeats
Eberflus’ tenure came to an unceremonious end amid a six-game losing streak that has been nothing short of excruciating for Bears fans. The streak has been defined by a series of last-second losses, each more painful than the last:
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Week 8: An 18-15 road loss to the Washington Commanders, capped by a tipped 52-yard Hail Mary pass. To make matters worse, Bears cornerback Tyrique Stevenson was caught taunting fans with his back to the play before scrambling into coverage.
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Week 11: A 20-19 loss to the Green Bay Packers, where a blocked 46-yard field goal attempt sealed their fate. It was kicker Cairo Santos’ league-leading third blocked attempt of the season, and the Bears’ decision not to run an extra play to shorten the kick drew heavy criticism.
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Week 12: A 30-27 overtime loss to the Minnesota Vikings, erasing a spirited fourth-quarter rally.
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Week 13: The final straw—a 23-20 loss to the Lions. With the ball on Detroit’s 41-yard line and 32 seconds left, Eberflus opted not to call his final timeout. Rookie quarterback Caleb Williams launched a deep pass to Rome Odunze, but it fell incomplete as time expired.
Despite the losses, there’s been a silver lining: Caleb Williams. The rookie quarterback has been on fire, throwing 232 passes without an interception—the longest streak for a rookie in NFL history. Over the last two weeks, he’s thrown five touchdowns with zero picks. Whoever takes over as head coach will inherit the critical task of continuing Williams’ development.
Clock Management Controversy
Eberflus defended his clock management decisions after Sunday’s loss. Following a sack with 32 seconds remaining, the Bears allowed 26 seconds to tick off the clock before running their final play. Williams, realizing there wasn’t enough time for another play, audibled to a deep pass attempt.
“I like what we did there,” Eberflus said. “Once it’s under seven [seconds], you’re going to call a timeout there—actually under 12—and then really you don’t have an option because it’s third (down) to fourth, you have to throw it into the end zone then. To me, I think we handled it the right way. I do believe that you just rerack the play, get it in bounds, and call timeout, and that’s why we held it. It didn’t work out the way we wanted it to.”
A Record to Forget
Unfortunately for Eberflus, the numbers don’t lie. Chicago has lost six one-score games in 2024, bringing his career record in such games to 5-19—the worst in NFL history for any coach with at least 20 one-score games. His overall record with the Bears stands at 14-32, giving him a .304 win percentage, the third-worst in franchise history behind John Fox (.292) and Abe Gibron (.274). He also holds the dubious distinction of being the first head coach in Bears history to be fired midseason.
Turmoil on the Coaching Staff
Eberflus’ tenure was marked by instability within the coaching staff. He fired offensive coordinator Shane Waldron ahead of Week 11, replacing him with Thomas Brown. Waldron was the second offensive coordinator to be dismissed in 2024, following the January firing of Luke Getsy and four other offensive coaches. In total, Eberflus fired eight coaches in less than three seasons.
What’s Next for the Bears?
Eberflus was hired in January 2022 after a successful stint as the defensive coordinator for the Indianapolis Colts, where his defenses ranked in the top 10 in scoring three times. But his success in Indianapolis didn’t translate to Chicago. The Bears have now missed the playoffs in 12 of their last 14 seasons, and the team’s defense has regressed significantly during their current losing streak.
With Eberflus out, the Bears are once again searching for answers. Can Thomas Brown steady the ship? Will Caleb Williams continue to shine? One thing is certain: the road ahead won’t be easy, but the Bears have no choice but to keep fighting.
Originally Written by: Kevin Seifert
