Bears fire HC Matt Eberflus in unprecedented move

Matt Eberflus offered the public remarks often made by head coaches on the hot seat after the Bears’ most recent loss. The franchise is nevertheless making an unprecedented in-season change on the sidelines.

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

Eberflus had a solid four-year run as the Colts’ defensive coordinator before being hired by the Bears to replace Matt Nagy. The 54-year-old could not guide the team to a run of success in two seasons with Justin Fields as quarterback, although during the second half of last year, in particular, the defense showed signs of improvement. Several moves this past offseason added new faces on offense, highlighted by the decision to move on from Fields and select Caleb Williams with the first overall pick. The latter’s rookie season has been marred by a string of close losses in recent weeks, several of which have increased the speculation that Eberflus would not last the year.

Chicago had a 4-2 record heading into the bye week, indicating the team would at least be competitive in what has proven to be a strong NFC North. The Bears lost to the Commanders on a Hail Mary (during which cornerback Tyrique Stevenson 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 Shane Waldron as OC.

Williams’ 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 how the Thanksgiving game ended Thursday before a brief media availability Friday morning. Shortly after multiple public appearances — during which, in both cases, he expressed a belief he would be retained — Eberflus is now out of the organization.

Three head coaching vacancies are now present in the NFL. The Jets moved on from Robert Saleh, while the Saints dismissed Dennis Allen. Eberflus joins them as a head coach with a defensive background who is looking for a new opportunity. No shortage of candidates (particularly on the offensive side of the ball) will be involved in the 2025 hiring cycle, and likely the earliest Eberflus will join a new staff.

Brown made his NFL coaching debut in 2020 with the Rams. He was a member of Sean McVay‘s staff for three years before taking the Panthers’ OC gig last offseason. The 2023 campaign saw head coach Frank Reich 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 Bryce Young helped lead to his departure. In a very short period, Brown has ascended from passing game coordinator to OC and, at least for a short-term spell, head coach.

From a big-picture perspective, Friday’s move represents the continuation of an unwelcome trend regarding the HC-QB combination in Chicago. Mitch Trubisky spent one season with John Fox 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. Eberflus has received less than one full campaign following the Williams selection. The young passer’s development is the organization’s top priority, and finding a long-term coach to pair him with for 2025 and beyond will be critical in that process.

In all, Eberflus becomes the fifth Bears head coach to be fired since George McCaskey 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.