The Bears have had an up-and-down season in Year 2 under head coach Matt Eberflus. As a result, his name has been floated as a candidate to be replaced this offseason, but it remains to be seen if the team’s front office will authorize a change. 
Both Eberflus and general manager Ryan Poles will be evaluated after the 2023 season, Dianna Russini of The Athletic reports (subscription required). New president Kevin Warren has signficant sway in the team’s direction, and Russini notes he has spent his time in Chicago “getting a feel for the organization.” Warren will have a major say with respect to changes on the sidelines and in the front office, but the Eberflus-Poles pairing still has time to make a positive impression.
The Bears currently sit at 4-8 on the season, one in which improvement from last season’s tear-down campaign was expected. Chicago began the year with five losses out of the first six games, but a 3-3 record since then has likely helped the cause for Eberflus, Poles and quarterback Justin Fields to remain in their current positions. The latter could easily be replaced this spring given the Bears’ strong chance of owning the No. 1 pick in the 2024 draft, but he appears to still have the backing of the team at this point.
Nevertheless, it would not come as a shock if Eberflus were to be let go after the campaign. In that event, a number of candidates would no doubt be on the team’s radar. One of those is Eric Bieniemy, Josina Anderson of CBS Sports reports. The longtime Chiefs offensive coordinator took the OC position in Washington this offseason in a move which granted him play-calling duties and the added title of assistant head coach.
In the eyes of many, it also set Bieniemy up for his first NFL head coaching position in the event he were to remain with the Commanders in 2024 and beyond. Current head coach Ron Rivera is widely believed to be on the way out at the conclusion of this season, and Bieniemy’s work with respect to developing second-year passer Sam Howell has drawn praise. The Commanders rank 10th in the league in total offense despite a mediocre ground game, but the team’s defense has floundered in recent weeks in particular and resulted in a 4-9 record.
The Bears are in a similar position in the win-loss column, but improved play on defense – Eberflus’ familiarity dating back to his coordinator days – has been evident at times in recent games. Chicago ranks 11th in yards allowed per game this season (319) and first against the run (79). Eberflus has served as the defensive play-caller since the sudden resignation of DC Alan Williams in September. That move, along with the acquisition and extension of defensive end Montez Sweat, has not yielded a strong performance in the pass-rush department, however.
Eberflus and Poles were mentioned in a September report as being on the hot seat, but the former later expressed the support he had received from the organization. Plenty is still to be determined over the closing weeks of the season, but the Bears’ organizational direction will be a major storyline to watch upon the conclusion of the campaign. With the prospect of two top-10 picks in April’s draft, the team’s HC position could be an attractive one for Bieniemy if he were to find himself in consideration for the job, though he could also receive interest from other teams this offseason.
Half the league might have new coaches next year and somehow I’m still dubious anyone takes a serious look at Bieniemy.
The XFL is always looking for coaches with NFL experience.
Bieniemy must have a track record of turning people off during interviews. His checkered past off the field was long enough ago that it seems like it shouldn’t be disqualifying him anymore, or at least not so often. Maybe he’s trying to interview with all 32 teams before he finally makes a choice?
People like to throw Bienemy’s name around a lot, but this may the opportunity that makes the most sense.
I think Bears will pursue Jim Harbaugh hard, as will some other teams like Las Vegas and LA Chargers. Jim will take the team with the best chance to win now, and ownership that stays out his way. Bears having 2 picks in top 10, and a move to a new stadium in the next few years would be tempting. If Bienemy gets a HC job, it will probably be on the 2nd or 3rd tier coaching hires.
With all of the political bickering and potential tax implications, good luck with a new stadium in Chicago area sooner than later.
I look for Bieniemy to get the HC job that is going to open up in Washington. They can keep Howell in the same system, and I think Howell’s development is going to play a big factor in that decision.
Bears, yeah, I could definitely see them chasing Harbaugh. Personally, I think it’ll be a little foolish. But, teams do foolish things.
I do wonder if an NFC club would be more appealing to Jim so he doesn’t have to go through his brother to get to a Super Bowl.
Why is chasing Harbaugb foolish? He’s hands down the best HC available for hire in the NFL. No one else has the resume and respect he does.
As for Bienemy, there’s new ownership there with lots of money. They may want a big name to start their era.
I think tPoles is gonna trade Fields, draft a QB at 1 or 2, and hire the OC from Detroit to start fresh. They’re better than they were last season and with a rookie QB contract, draft capital and a ton of cap space, they can really take a step forward next season. Just IMO..
Yes. Because the Bears had so much luck with the last assistant they took from KC…..
Fair, but for as much bad management as Nagy gave them, he also gave them their only winning season in the last ten (eleven actually) years. So there is that.
I don’t think that Bienemy is a slam dunk, mind you. I do think that his attitude could fit with a team that is using its emotion in its best games this year, and that he could mesh with Fields in that department if so. If Chicago drafts a new QB, which they probably will, the case for a different coach seems stronger to me. What I’m saying is, if I had to pick the best opening for Bienemy himself, it might be Chicago.
Fields and some of his other teammates, many of whom are young, are playing with a lot of emotion this year, and I think that an emotional coach like Bienemy could have a chance to build on that. Granted, it’s not guaranteed. We know that Bienemy is fiery, but we don’t know if that is necessarily always positive. So, it could go the other way-Rivera alluded to Bienemy being tough to play for, so it could be a bad sense of emotional leadership as well. If he is positive, I think that he would suit the current team better than he does a hypothetical rebuild, and the Bears may be the best fit for him as a coach if that’s the case. Being a young team, and an underdog, that emotional leadership has inspired similar rosters in the past. Of course, it’s also led to undisciplined football as well. I don’t know if Bienemy is the best choice for Chicago, but right now I think that Chicago is probably the most fitting for Bienemy, mostly if they keep Fields, which could be unlikely. This is a bit of devil’s advocacy, but I could see that scenario in my mind.
The Bears path is simple to understand. If they’re stupid enough to keep Eberflus then they should keep Fields. It makes no sense to get a new HC ( Which would be Fields third) and confuse him any more than he is now. What makes the most sense is fire Eberflus, then with a new HC take the opportunity to start off fresh and reset at QB. Trade Fields for whatever you can get and move on. I just hope that Harbaugh and Bienemy aren’t the HC they pick. They’re both old and tired. I think they need a new fresh face like a Ben Johnson.
Old and tired? I don’t get that. Eberflus was hired to lead a torn down roster without much talent through the beginning of the rebuild. He has done that. If you were expecting a playoff team you were delusional. They have marginally improved while adding young talent. It would be reasonable to expect a bigger jump in year 3 of the rebuild. I would expect the Bears to look at the available coaches this year. I am not sure ownership would pay the contract necessary for Harbaugh. Nor am I convinced they would want all the issues that come with him. I don’t see Johnson coming here. He seems like a perfect fit for the Chargers. Poles could have hired Bienemy and didn’t. Coaches will be more interested in this job than two years ago. Choices will be available. The Fields/draft a QB is the most important decision to be made this offseason. I still have more trust in Poles to make that call than any GM since Finks, which was a long time ago.
All we expected was a Competent football team. Didn’t get ANYWHERE NEAR that in 2 years. Where’s that guy who said “PLAYOFFS? PLAYOFFS? No real fan expected playoffs. Functional football team is all we expected. They’re an incompetent, disorganized mess. And that’s all on the coaching. 20 WR screen passes a game. Penalties galore. Horrible 1980’s defensive scheme. It’s pitiful.
That would be Jim Mora when he was coaching the Colts. AS much as I hate to admin it, the Bears D has shown up for a good chunk of the season with the offense mostly M.I.A.
Here is the problem I have with Eberflus going away. Sure his decision making team wise has been questionable, but no question the defense has been levels better with him calling it. I can see Bieniemy becoming the Bears OC, but I think for HC its either Harbaugh or Eberflus is back next season (as good or bad as that may be).