Matt Eberflus went 14-32 as Chicago Bears head coach. Positives and memorable moments were fleeting.
He oversaw multiple six-game losing streaks. The team’s record in one-score games was abysmal. There was drama off the field, coaches who were fired or resigned, and more than enough criticism lobbed Eberflus’ way.
Thought of as a return to what Lovie Smith brought to Halas Hall two decades earlier, Eberflus had the defensive acumen, and at times connected with his players, but in the end, the coaching failures added up.
Here’s a timeline from his introduction at Halas Hall to his final day on the job.
Jan. 27, 2022: Bears hire Eberflus
Two days after Ryan Poles was named the general manager, the Bears had their head coach. The two met through their shared agent — Trace Armstrong — and Poles hired Eberflus over other candidates, including Dan Quinn.
“Our team shared with Ryan our feedback on the head coaching positions and the candidates we had interviewed and turned the search over to him,” chairman George McCaskey said a few days later. “He told me that two things about Matt were especially persuasive for him: Matt’s unmistakable passion and the connection that the two of them quickly established.”
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Jan. 31, 2022: Eberflus introduces “HITS” to Chicago
In the “Mugs” Auditorium at Halas Hall, we met Poles and Eberflus, and the city learned about Eberflus’ philosophy.
“My next piece of advice for the players, for sure, is get your track shoes on because we’re running,” Eberflus said memorably.
As he laid out what the H, I, T and S stood for — hustle, intensity, take the ball away and play smart — it didn’t necessarily come with an inspirational tone. Suddenly, on his first day on the job, Eberflus already found himself as the target of jokes about acronyms from an understandably cynical media contingent.
Sept. 11, 2022: Bears win Eberflus’ debut
Eberflus had a generally quiet first offseason. The Bears did get docked an OTA in June for violating practice rules. Star linebacker Roquan Smith was “holding in” for a new contract. Otherwise, there were little expectations, and in rainy, muddy conditions, the Bears won their opener over the 49ers, with “HITS” on full display with two forced turnovers.\
Justin Fields and the Bears looked impressive against the Patriots on “Monday Night Football” in 2022. (Adam Glanzman / Getty Images)
Oct. 24, 2022: Signature win on MNF
After three consecutive one-score losses, the Bears went into Foxborough, Mass., on Monday night and won as 8.5-point underdogs to the Patriots. Justin Fields threw for a touchdown and ran for another. It was our first glimpse of an offense built around Fields’ ability to run.
Oct. 31, 2022: Bears trade Roquan Smith
The good feelings from that win led to an aggressive trade for wide receiver Chase Claypool. A 49-29 loss to the Cowboys flipped the script a bit, and it was the first ugly game for Eberflus’ defense. The next day, the Bears traded Smith to Baltimore. With Robert Quinn in Philadelphia, the defense was without its two best players in the front seven. What we didn’t know then was how long the losing streak would last.
Jan. 1, 2023: Laugher in Detroit
Fields’ record-setting performances as a runner against Miami and Detroit swept Bears fans up, but they came in losses. He then got hurt and missed a loss to the Jets, one that featured pregame confusion over who would start at quarterback.
On New Year’s Day, having already lost eight in a row, the Bears were blown out by the Lions 41-10. They gained only 130 yards against a poor defense in a game that illustrated how far the Lions had moved past the Bears. Claypool’s frustrations boiled over on the sideline. Eberflus received questions over leaving Fields in at the end of a rout.
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Sept. 20, 2023: DC Alan Williams resigns; Fields mentions coaching as the reason for “robotic” play
Chaos at Halas Hall, Part I. Williams mysteriously missed the team’s game in Tampa, and as wild and unfounded rumors swirled about his absence, he resigned. Earlier in the day, Fields had seemingly called out the coaching staff for his poor play earlier in the season. He walked back the comments later in the locker room.
It was the first real PR crisis of Eberflus’ regime and would prove to be the beginning of his struggles in front of the camera when things were falling apart around him, often repeating the phrase, “That’s where it is,” when he addressed reporters two days later. The Bears had lost 12 in a row, and it became 13 in Kansas City, a 41-10 debacle.
Oct. 1, 2023: Bears blow lead to Denver, fall to 0-4
It seemed that everything was fixed. Fields put together a record performance in the first half. The Bears had a 28-7 lead in the third quarter. The Broncos responded with 24 unanswered points. Fields lost a fumble that was returned for a touchdown and was called for intentional grounding. The Bears got stuffed on fourth-and-1.
To make matters worse, Claypool was inactive and Eberflus struggled to communicate the situation. Was he at the stadium? Was he told to stay home? What was going on? When asked why Claypool wasn’t at Soldier Field, Eberflus said, “I’m not sure.”
Claypool was traded to Miami the next day.
Nov. 1, 2023: RB coach David Walker is fired
Two days after a blowout loss to the Chargers on “Sunday Night Football,” another member of Eberflus’ staff exited unceremoniously. Walker’s dismissal was HR-related.
Asked if the responsibility for the coaching instability lie with Eberflus, he responded, “I would say the responsibility is there because I’m the head football coach. I would also say that the standard has to be met, right? And when it’s not met, you make a decision. We did that.”
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Nov. 19, 2023: Blown lead in Detroit
The Bears had a 26-14 lead with three minutes to go at Ford Field. The Lions scored back-to-back touchdowns and then finished the game with a safety on a strip-sack of Fields, giving them a 30-26 win.
“Obviously the disappointment was the finish,” Eberflus said. “We didn’t finish it as a football team, didn’t finish it as coaches, as players, the right way, and there’s a lot of plays to be had out there and good calls that we could’ve made in those situations to get us that victory.”
Dec. 10, 2023: Biggest win of Eberflus era
The Bears topped the Lions 28-13 at Soldier Field. Eberflus’ defense was rolling, having picked off Jared Goff twice. It was back-to-back NFC North wins. They didn’t turn the ball over and entered a game in Cleveland against backup Joe Flacco with a chance to stay in the playoff hunt.
Browns cornerback Greg Newsome II celebrates after Bears wide receiver Darnell Mooney couldn’t grab a Hail Mary in Cleveland. (Scott Galvin / USA Today)
Dec. 17, 2023: Another fourth-quarter collapse
Two images stuck from this loss in Cleveland: Darnell Mooney sitting on the grass having not caught the Hail Mary and defensive tackle Justin Jones in coverage on a critical third-and-15 the Browns converted. Cleveland came back from 10 down in the fourth quarter to win.
Jan. 10, 2024: Getsy fired, Eberflus remains as head coach
The Bears were silent for a couple of days after the season ended. Would a coaching change be made after only two seasons to bring in an offensive mind, or someone more experienced considering the Bears had the No. 1 pick?
Instead, Eberflus stayed as head coach with the confidence of Poles and Kevin Warren, who was several months into his new role as president/CEO. Eberflus’ decision then was to find a new offensive staff after firing Getsy.
Jan. 23, 2024: Bears hire Shane Waldron as OC, Eberflus debuts new look
Eberflus traveled the West Coast searching for the right play caller. He interviewed several candidates, including a couple whose offenses look a lot better than what the Bears had the first two months of this season.
At the news conference to introduce Waldron and defensive coordinator Eric Washington, we saw the new “Flus,” featuring a beard and new hairstyle that turned out to be a storyline all summer.
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April 25, 2024: Bears draft Caleb Williams No. 1
The Bears traded Fields to Pittsburgh and now Eberflus, a defensive head coach, would be in charge of bringing in Williams, the most heralded rookie quarterback to ever set foot in Halas Hall.
“I really believe that Caleb is in a really good spot,” Eberflus said. “He’s starting at a good spot and he’s going to finish at a good spot.”
May 30, 2024: HBO chooses Bears for “Hard Knocks”
Suddenly, the Bears’ 2024 season was going to get a lot more hype. They were selected, or slightly nudged, into doing the NFL’s reality show for training camp. Eberflus would be the show’s focal point, from trips to his house to and interview with him while he got his hair cut.
“I believe that NFL Films and HBO does an outstanding job of getting their message out of the team, and we’re going to be proud of that message because I’m proud of these guys and I’m proud of this organization,” Eberflus said.
Sept. 15, 2024: Bears fall to Texans on SNF
During Eberflus’ first two seasons, there weren’t many opportunities for replay challenges or close games that turned on a call from the head coach. In Week 2, the offense remained the mess we saw in an improbable season-opening win, and Eberflus lost two challenges. The Bears fell 19-13.
Caleb Williams and the Bears were feeling good in London after their third straight win. (Harry Murphy / Getty Images)
Oct. 13, 2024: Victory in London gives Bears three-game winning streak
The high point for the team in the Eberflus era — two games above .500. After Williams and the offense took off against the Jaguars, the Bears seemed like a potential playoff team. The team headed into the bye with as much confidence as we had seen since 2019.
Oct. 27, 2024: The Hail Mary
The moment that may have ultimately broken Eberflus, and the team.
The offense didn’t look any better after the bye. Waldron dialed up a handoff to center Doug Kramer at the goal line. Kramer fumbled and Eberflus defended the call after the game.
The defense kept making stops, and Williams made big plays to bring the Bears back to take the lead in the final minute.
With six seconds left, instead of defending the sideline or playing tight, the Bears allowed an easy 13-yard pass. Eberflus stood by the call after the game and the next day. Then he didn’t call a timeout to set up a defense, even as starting cornerback Tyrique Stevenson talked with fans in the stands when Jayden Daniels took the snap.
Stevenson deflected the pass into Noah Brown’s hands for the touchdown. The stadium erupted. The Bears went from 5-2 to 4-3 and in tatters just like that.
“I’ve got to look at it and detail it out and make sure we’re better next time,” Eberflus said. “But again, it’s a hard way to lose. But I was proud of the way the guys battled all the way through.”
The next day, Eberflus fielded several questions about Stevenson and the decisions. During the week, players voiced opinions publicly disagreeing with decisions in the game. Team meetings were held. The Bears were only at the beginning of a tumultuous stretch.
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Nov. 11, 2024: Bears fire Waldron
The response to the Hail Mary? A dud in Arizona, a 29-9 loss in which the Bears were bad on both sides of the ball. Stevenson didn’t start, as punishment for the previous week. But confidence in Eberflus was waning.
The last-place Patriots seemed like the perfect respite. They came to Soldier Field with rookie quarterback Drake Maye and won 19-3. It was a pitiful performance for the offense considering the competition and the desperation to get back on track.
After the game and on Monday, Eberflus would not definitively say if Waldron would remain the play caller. Tuesday morning, Waldron became the Bears’ first offensive coordinator fired in-season. Thomas Brown took over as play caller.
Eberflus was on to his third offensive coordinator in less than three seasons.
“We have really struggled the last three weeks and I just thought the best thing right now for the Bears, OK, for our football team, where we are in the season, was to make that adjustment,” Eberflus said.
Nov. 17, 2024: The blocked field goal
Brown’s move to play caller provided a boost. Williams and the offense started to play better against the Packers. They had a 19-14 lead before Jordan Love’s touchdown made it 20-19. Then the rookie quarterback put the Bears in position to do the unthinkable — beat the Packers. Instead of running another play or moving to the hash where Cairo Santos usually kicks his extra points, Eberflus decided to kick on second down.
Santos’ kick was blocked, and the Bears lost.
“We’re going to keep battling, keep fighting, and we’ve got a division opponent coming here next week,” Eberflus said. “That’s where it is. It takes true strength and true courage, I told them. Tough times don’t last, but tough people do.”
Nov. 24, 2024: The overtime loss
The Bears entered the fourth quarter trailing by 14. Eberflus had lost another challenge. The defense was giving up big plays. But Williams threw two touchdown passes to tie the game and send it to overtime.
But he was sacked on second down, leading to a punt. Despite the defense putting the Vikings into second-and-17, third-and-10 and second-and-11, Sam Darnold completed explosive plays to wide-open receivers, leading to the Vikings’ game-winning field goal.
“You lose three games like this, I think it is difficult,” Eberflus said. “Again, you got to be tough. You got to be tough. This league, it’s not going to feel sorry for you. We got to go and get ready to play Detroit.”
Nov. 28, 2024: The Thanksgiving mismanagement
It seemed like a predictable outcome at Ford Field on Thanksgiving. The Lions moved the ball with ease and the Bears couldn’t get a first down, digging a 16-0 hole. But for the third week in a row, the defense got critical stops and Williams made clutch plays.
The Bears had first-and-10 at the Lions’ 25-yard line with one timeout left. A penalty and a sack made it third-and-26 with 32 seconds remaining. The clock kept ticking, Williams couldn’t get the offense set, and Eberflus didn’t call a timeout. Instead of getting a game-tying field goal attempt off, the game ended on an incomplete pass, with that timeout unused.
“Well, I’m the head football coach so I’m taking the blame, of course,” Eberflus said. “That’s what you do. So we didn’t get it done, it starts at the top and it starts right here. So accountability is right here with me and again, we just have to do it better and I have to do it better, and I was proud of the guys with the way they fought, and they did a good job putting themselves in position.”
A wild end to this one. #CHIvsDET pic.twitter.com/zwR7g1Efv9
— NFL (@NFL) November 28, 2024
Nov. 29, 2024: Eberflus is fired
At 9 a.m. Friday morning, Eberflus addressed the media. He said he was operating as normal, preparing for next week’s game against the 49ers.
Less than two and a half hours later, he was fired, the first Bears head coach to ever be fired during the season.
“I thank Matt for his hard work, professionalism and dedication to our organization,” Poles said in a statement. “We extend our gratitude for his commitment to the Chicago Bears and wish him and his family the best moving forward.”
(Top photo: Quinn Harris / Getty Images)
