Thanksgiving Blunder - Bears Fire Eberflus

 

Before this season, the Chicago Bears had never fired a coach during the season, a fact they took pride in. However, this year, they encountered several late-game coaching mishaps, particularly the situation that unfolded on Thanksgiving in front of a national audience.

Coach Matt Eberflus will carry the memory of the final minutes of the loss against the Detroit Lions into his next job. In a moment of confusion, the Bears allowed about 25 seconds to run off the clock instead of calling a timeout during a 23-20 loss, which marked the end of the franchise's patience with him. Eberflus met with the media on Friday morning and was subsequently fired, according to multiple reports. This decision marks the first time the Bears have dismissed a head coach during the season.

Offensive coordinator Thomas Brown will step in to lead the team for the remainder of the season, as reported by multiple sources.

Our own Coach Rome called this a few hours ago...

The Bears experienced several losses marked by questionable coaching decisions, including a loss to the Lions and a Hail Mary defeat against the Washington Commanders. First overall pick Caleb Williams struggled for most of his rookie season, which worsened after the firing of offensive coordinator Shane Waldron. As a result, the Bears quickly fell out of playoff contention. Prior to Waldron's dismissal, Brown served as the passing game coordinator.

The Bears will move forward, but for their fans, the lasting memory of Eberflus will be how his team squandered yet another game in the final seconds.

Matt Eberflus had bad run with Bears

Eberflus' first season as head coach ended with a disappointing 3-14 record, but he retained his position. The following season started poorly as well, with a 2-7 record. However, Eberflus managed to rally the team to win five of their last eight games, ultimately saving his job. While it was an exciting stretch, it was also damaging in the long run since it led to his retention for another season.

The 2024 season began somewhat favorably, with a 4-2 record at the bye week, aided by several weak opponents. After the bye, however, things took a turn for the worse. Quarterback Williams began to struggle. The Bears suffered a heartbreaking loss to the Washington Commanders on a Hail Mary pass, which came after the team allowed just enough yards for Washington to attempt a long throw. Eberflus dismissed the significance of that decision, stating it "doesn’t really matter." 

A few weeks later, the Bears found themselves in a position to defeat the Green Bay Packers, but instead settled for a blocked 46-yard field goal attempt. The Packers claimed they were able to predict that kicker Cairo Santos had a low trajectory on his kicks, which allowed them to block the final attempt. Eberflus defended his choice not to attempt a closer kick. An overtime loss to the Minnesota Vikings suggested that perhaps the Bears were improving, but an embarrassing defeat against the Lions quickly dispelled that notion.

On Thanksgiving, the Bears fought back from a 16-0 halftime deficit and managed to trail 23-20 in the final minute. However, a sack with approximately 30 seconds left set the Bears back significantly, leading to a chaotic final play. Williams appeared confused as he tried to get the team lined up properly. The snap came with just six seconds remaining, and Williams attempted a deep throw that fell incomplete after the clock had expired. Despite having a timeout left, the team did not use it.

It’s rare for an NFL team to end a game as poorly as the Bears did in that situation.

Who's next?

The Bears' situation isn't as bleak as it may seem. The bar for success is relatively low, given that Chicago has missed the playoffs in 12 out of the last 14 seasons and hasn't won a playoff game since the end of the 2010 season. However, the roster possesses considerable potential, and quarterback Justin Fields has shown enough ability that a strong coaching candidate will recognize the opportunity to work with him.

After the Bears made the mistake of hiring a defensive-minded coach in Matt Eberflus while many other teams opted for offensive coaches, it seems likely that their next head coach will have an offensive background.

There are reasons to be optimistic about the Bears' future, which would be a welcome change for a franchise that hasn't captured a Super Bowl title in almost four decades. Eberflus was not the right fit for the team, and it took an extra year for the Bears to come to that realization.

In a high-profile game on Thanksgiving, Eberflus' tenure came to an end.

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