{"id":19694,"date":"2024-11-29T18:34:37","date_gmt":"2024-11-29T18:34:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gpt.m2mbeta.com\/?p=19694"},"modified":"2024-11-29T18:34:37","modified_gmt":"2024-11-29T18:34:37","slug":"bears-fire-matt-eberflus","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gpt.m2mbeta.com\/?p=19694","title":{"rendered":"Bears Fire Matt Eberflus"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Matt Eberflus\u00a0<\/strong>offered the public remarks often made by head coaches on the hot seat in the wake of the Bears\u2019 most recent loss. The franchise is nevertheless making an unprecedented in-season change on the sidelines. \"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Eberflus has been fired, as first reported by Sports Illustrated\u2019s Albert Breer<\/a>. His tenure in Chicago comes to an end after two-plus years at the helm of the team. He compiled a 14-32 record along the way, and the latest contribution to the team\u2019s current six-game losing streak has marked the end of his first NFL head coaching gig. Recently-promoted offensive coordinator\u00a0Thomas Brown\u00a0<\/strong>will serve as interim head coach, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network adds<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Eberflus had a strong four-year run as the Colts\u2019 defensive coordinator before being hired by the Bears to replace Matt Nagy.\u00a0<\/strong>The 54-year-old was unable to guide the team to a run of success in two seasons with Justin Fields<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>at quarterback, although during the second half of last year in particular the defense did show signs of improvement. A number of moves made this past offseason added new faces on offense, highlighted by the decision to move on from Fields and select Caleb Williams<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>with the first overall pick. The latter\u2019s rookie season has been marred by a string of close losses in recent weeks, several of which have increased the speculation Eberflus would not last the year.<\/p>\n

Chicago had a 4-2 record heading into the bye week, an indication the team would at least be competitive in what has proven to be a very strong NFC North. The Bears lost to the Commanders on a Hail Mary (during which cornerback Tyrique Stevenson<\/strong><\/a> joined Eberflus in receiving considerable blame) in Week 8, however, and that marked the beginning of the current streak. Low-scoring defeats against the Cardinals and Patriots led to a play-calling change on offense, with Brown taking over from<\/a>\u00a0Shane Waldron<\/strong> as OC.<\/p>\n

Williams\u2019 play has generally improved since that move was made, but narrow losses to the Packers (on a blocked field goal), Vikings (in overtime) and Lions (during which the Bears mismanaged the situation at the end of the game and did not generate at least an attempt at a game-tying field goal) have now left Eberflus out of opportunities to rebound this season. Chicago sits at 4-8 on the year with the postseason no longer a realistic possibility. He defended the manner in which the Thanksgiving game ended<\/a> yesterday before a brief media availability this morning. Shortly after multiple public appearances \u2013 during which, in both cases, he expressed a belief he would be retained \u2013 Eberflus is now out of the organization.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Three head coaching vacancies are now present in the NFL. The Jets moved on from\u00a0Robert Saleh\u00a0<\/strong>while\u00a0Dennis Allen\u00a0<\/strong>was dismissed by the Saints. Eberflus now joins them as a head coach with a defensive background on the lookout for a new opportunity. No shortage of candidates (particularly on the offensive side of the ball) will be involved in the 2025 hiring cycle, likely the earliest point at which Eberflus will join a new staff.<\/p>\n

Brown made his NFL coaching debut in 2020 with the Rams. He was a member of\u00a0Sean McVay<\/strong>\u2018s staff for three years before taking the Panthers\u2019 OC gig last offseason. The 2023 campaign saw head coach Frank Reich <\/strong>fired amidst changes in play-calling duties with Brown. The latter spent much of the year at the helm, though, and the lack of development shown by quarterback\u00a0Bryce Young<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>helped lead to his departure. In a very short period of time, Brown has now ascended from passing game coordinator to OC and now, at least for a short-term spell, head coach.<\/p>\n

From a big-picture perspective, today\u2019s move represents the continuation of an unwelcomed trend regarding the HC-QB combination in Chicago.\u00a0Mitch Trubisky<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>spent one season with\u00a0John Fox<\/strong> before a change on the sidelines was made. Nagy, in turn, spent one year with Fields in place before being dismissed at the end of the 2021 campaign. Now, Eberflus has received less than one full campaign following the Williams selection. The young passer\u2019s development is of course the organization\u2019s top priority, and finding a long-term coach to pair him with for 2025 and beyond will be critical in that process.<\/p>\n

In all, Eberflus becomes the fifth Bears head coach to be fired since\u00a0George McCaskey\u00a0<\/strong>took over as chairman in 2011. Over that span, Chicago has posted a winning record only twice while cycling through three general managers and another three offensive coordinators. Finding stability will be key moving forward, but the latest attempt on that front will include a new voice on the sidelines.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n