Matt Eberflus offered the public remarks often made by head coaches on the hot seat in the wake of 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 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’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, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network adds.
[RELATED: Fallout From Bears’ Eberflus Firing]
Eberflus had a strong four-year run as the Colts’ defensive coordinator before being hired by the Bears to replace Matt Nagy. The 54-year-old was unable to guide the team to a run of success in two seasons with Justin Fields 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 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 Eberflus would not last the year.
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 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 the manner in which the Thanksgiving game ended yesterday before a brief media availability this 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 Dennis Allen 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.
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 of time, Brown has now ascended from passing game coordinator to OC and now, at least for a short-term spell, head coach.
From a big-picture perspective, today’s move represents the continuation of an unwelcomed 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. Now, Eberflus has received less than one full campaign following the Williams selection. The young passer’s development is of course 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.
I’m not surprised.
Look at that. His time has run out.
What’s he got to say about his ” Job Security” Now?
Okay?
Most deserved firing
And he defended that blunder yesterday!!! If he had taken the blame maybe he would’ve gotten another chance next week
They need to fire whoever the idiot was who kept telling Eberlose is was OK to keep challenging plays that were going to obviously fail. Whoever that guy was he needs to be shown the door also. Nobody’s perfect except Eberlose. he lost every challenge he ever made.
Ben Johnson PLEASE
I don’t think Johnson wants to coach for a dysfunctional franchise. The Bears are a perpetual train wreck from an organizational standpoint.
So were the Lions.
They were, but that was before he was highly sought after. Now that people actually want him he wouldn’t be found 1000 miles from coaching that loser franchise
Well Detroit is just a couple hundred miles from Chicago, so…
Is he coaching that loser franchise? No.
Ya he really looked great in the second half of that game yesterday.
Reaching bud.
Ridiculous take. If you think there’s a potential head coach out there that won’t think twice before turning down a chance to coach Williams, you’re letting your hate blind you.
I promise you many coaches would. You think Bill Belichek would choose the Bears over some of the other potential options? Jets & Giants (possibly) are much more fruitful markets to be paid in. Someone like Johnson, or Arthur Smith, are already in better positions at OC with franchises who don’t currently seem like a black hole. Jacksonville has great weather that immediately makes there more attractive. I mean maybe they’d choose Chicago over Vegas – since they’re both perennial losers – but I’d go live the Vegas life over dodging bullets in Chicago.
This comment solidifies my belief you are just a troll.
Good substance you added.
“Dodging bullets in Chicago”. I forgot Detroit was recently named one of the safest places to live. He’s already in a big “dangerous” city.
617 homicides in Chicago in 2023.
252 homicides in Detroit in 2023 – the lowest since 1966 in the city. Detroit may be a dump, but there’s no bigger thug playground than Chicago and that’s just the truth…
By your stats, Chicago has a lower homicide rate than Detroit. Among NFL cities, Baltimore and New Orleans actually have higher rates than Detroit.
These millionaire head coaches don’t live in the bad neighborhoods, anyway. So wtf does it even matter??
Tell me you don’t know statistics without telling me you don’t know statistics. Chicago also had a population of 2.6 million to Detroits 660k. Do the math.
Outside of Cleveland NYC and the state of California there’s no bigger cess pool waste of land than Chicago. Nothing but wanna be’s running around shooting instead of working
@MyCommentIsBetter: You’re not telling the whole story because you’re ignoring city size. For 2022, the murder rate in Chicago was 18.2 for every 100,000 people. Detroit’s was higher at 22.3. I guess Detroit is the bigger “thug playground” after all.
400 more homicides. It’s play pen for gangsters.
Anyone who wants a loser from Foxboro coaching the Chicago Bears, be prepared to own “4-13 Forever”.
Arthur Smith is being linked with the UNC Tar Heels so that’s a no-go for Chicago.
It was just an example… But that ‘loser’ has more SB’s than your favorite team (unless it’s Pittsburgh) and Bears fans would rejoice if they were lucky enough for him to attempt to save them. Arthur Smith being linked means nothing. And I wasn’t even saying he was an option it was just an example how just about every coach from high school football on up is in a better spot than coaching the lousy Bears. Not to mention Arthur Smith said he would NOT just jump at any HC job as he would’ve earlier in his career. Therefore one can just make the assumption he knows better than to go to the Bears – as does anyone with a brain
Belichek is the last thing the Bears need. An old, stuck in his ways, malcontent is some other team’s desperation hire.
It was an example not a suggestion. The point is no HC would actively be looking to go to Chicago. There’s high school programs with a better outlook than them.
There will be coaches lined up who want the ‘burden’ of Williams, that receiving corps, a first and two seconds in the draft and a ton of cap space. Sounds just horrible.
I doubt it. They know they’ll last 20 games and be looking again after going 6-14
Haters gotta hate.
Realists gonna be real….
Any smart coach would think twice. Williams has a lot of talent, but what else does that team have going for it?
A lot of receiver talent and defensive talent.
Hahaha. The continued media narrative. Reality….that is a team with very minimal talent. QB included. Enough excuses.
Williams is very, very talented. At least Jenkins and Wright can be line building blocks. Moore and Odunze should be a good one two punch. Kmet is solid. Sweat is very good, Dexter is coming along solidly, the linebacker group is solid, and there’s a lot of talent in the secondary. That’s far from minimal talent and I say that as someone who’s not a Bears fan at all.
20/40’s gotta be a hater to post something that clueless. Just such lame denial.
This is Exactly the kind of situation he’d take on. Young QB, great offensive skill talent around him. Just need a couple better OLs and that team is gonna be a problem.
Also just a better coached pass protection scheme. In today’s NFL you can’t have an offense that looks like it’s never seen a stunt before.
Johnson could have taken the Redskins job and coached Jayden Daniels. A QB who we now know is better than Caleb Williams. But he didn’t because he doesn’t want to coach for a dysfunctional franchise.
“A QB who we now know is better than Caleb Williams.” I would still take Williams.
An expert opinion after a dozen games. I think Williams has shown just as well as Daniels did earlier in the season. Time will tell, but it will be influenced by many decisions in the meantime.
Classifinder.. You know nothing of the sort. Have you even watched the games? Williams has been damn good overall. He brought them back against the Redskins, Packers, Vikings and Lions and without Eberflub’s late game choking, they win at least two of those.
How are they a “trainwreck”? Ownership stays out of operations (unlike others) they have a quality team president/GM, and the roster has talent. Hardly “disfunctional”.
They’ve got a lot of talent but a horrible coaching staff. Easily fixable.
@mustard tiger. Yeah not sure if Johnson would take it. But maybe Aaron Glenn the d isn’t bad with Johnson.
The Bears are one of the most historic franchises in the NFL, he wanted to coach the Bears this past offseason, he has Caleb Williams to work with, and a bunch of solid draft picks.
So, no. You’re wrong.
If Bill Belichek wanted to coach the Bears they would’ve dropped their pants and did whatever he asked. He flat out didn’t want to coach this year. Simple.
The Bears will never give Belichick the kind of control he will want.
Ben Johnson turned down 5 picks in the first 100 of the draft with a guaranteed shot at a possible “Francise” QB. The ability to help re-build an organization and it’s culture with a new ownership group, that is opening committed to a multi-year process to build a long term winning francize. Not to mention a new stadium on the horizon.
I can see why the Chicago Bears are a better opportunity.
This is the greatest day in Bears history
Perhaps with the exception of when Nagy was fired…or Trestman…or Fox…
The problem is what the problem always is with the Bears. The guys who should do the hiring aren’t the guys who actually DO the hiring. Neither Warren or Poles hired Eberlose. Unless you believe that Poles hired him 2 days after HE was hired. The Bears always do things Bass Ackwards. Instead of hiring the GM first and letting him hire the guy he wants they always stick the guy with the guy THEY want first. Warren wasn’t even in the picture then. So now things are put right. Poles and Warren or just Poles gets to make the call. I’m expecting a much better result given how long he he has now to make that choice.
You’ve got to give Poles credit for what he has to deal with. Hopefully he can keep walking that line, because it does seem like he’s constrained, doesn’t he?
I would have made him walk home yesterday
That was awful
Or at least made him take the Bus …in a bit of irony
I don’t think a needlessly complicated offense is what Williams needs right now.
Caleb is a pretty confident guy….Bears just need to find the right coach
Caleb needs the Patrick mahomes system
There’s only one Andy Reid.
Bears already tried that. But The Andy Reid system without Andy Reid turned out to be Matt Nagy. It was a horrible fail.
Nagy’s overall NFL W/L record was 34-33, and with Trubisky as the starting QB. Not a horrible fail. Eberflus on the other hand is a horrible fail at 14-32.
Not here to defend Eberflus but this season was the only close to comparable to Nagy’s teams. Overall record is not a good indicator. Flus had nothing on the roster in his first year.
Nagy won when he had Fangio as his defensive coordinator. He gave Nagy a top 10 defense to pair with his inept offense. When Fangio left, it went to $hit.
Also… I will add Jon Gruden for head coach…I want him back in the league …I miss him a lot
I want him back too but if the raiders are willing to fire gruden then every team is
Which is why you can probably get him for pennies on the dollar.
The Raiders fired Jon Gruden ….. This is a different way to look at it.
As I recall, Al Davis traded Jon Gruden to Tampa Bay for two 1st round picks, two 2nd round picks, and $8 million. In 2002 that was completely unheard of for a coach, didn’t top the Hershal Walker trade.
Mark Davis did not fire Jon Gruden in 2021, he accepted his resignation. I believe the resignation evolved through emails that Dan Snyder released to defame Bruce Allen. Rodger Goodell demanded Jon Gruden exit from the NFL. Mark Davis was very vocal in his displeasure with both Rodger Goodell and Danny Snyder.
Yeah, Davis didn’t want to do that, clearly. Making matters worse was the good start to that year. A lot of people crapped on Gruden coaching-wise, but he wasn’t terrible at his worst and the team did start to improve finally.
The problem is that either he or Mayock missed on too many high profile picks that could have helped. They found some good ones in the lower rounds (or from other teams, like Waller), but a few high profile misses (including the Brown fiasco) held the rebuild back. Still, even with that, those Raiders weren’t terrible. It most definitely wasn’t assured, but I also didn’t have any reason that they couldn’t have improved. They were at least competitive in most games that they entered.
Head coaches are expected to make better decisions….ridiculous
It really speaks to how abhorrently bad Flus has been for the Bears to make history by firing a coach midseason for the first time in their franchises history.
I can’t believe the Bears are giving a first round quarterback a new coaching staff in his second year for the third time in less than a decade. If any team should have known to avoid this.
Sadly, it’s almost like it’s the organization’s philosophy to complete screw over drafted QBs in their rookie deals.
You would hope they’d try to do better when the third one is by far the best prospect.
Don’t leave the Jets out of this discussion. Not only did they screw up two top of the first round QBs, they also managed to screw up an HOF QB.
I didn’t leave the Jets out. It’s a discussion of the Bears. But also the Jets didn’t screw up a hall of fame QB so much as they acquired him at the back end of his career and gave him full authority over the offense when his late career success was predicated on a strong offensive coach pushing him into a more dynamic approach.
They’re doing Williams a favor. That guy was actually losing them games they had come to lead or tie. Absolutely had to be done. Williams will be just fine.
I think he will too, but still wild to be going through this again.
Ooof.. True! McCaskey just needs to stay the heck away from any hiring. He sprung Eberflus on Poles two days after he was hired and got the ‘pick who you want but we like this guy’ BS. And then when it was obvious to everybody with a pulse that Poles should move on from him last offseason, good ol George comes back with ‘pick who you want, but I don’t wanna pay this guy for three contract years.’ No, none of these are actual quotes, but everyone in Chicago or is a long time Bear fan knows that’s EXACTLY what happened. Go away George!!
You would have hoped for sure they’d learn after 2 strikes with Fox/Trubisky and Nagy/Fields, but here we are again with Eberflus/Williams.
Strike 3. Let’s hope they don’t get to a 4th strike.
I’d keep commenting but I’m late for the Parade down Lake Shore Drive that was set up kind of quickly.
Hahaha, for real
They had to. Bad coaching choice of Shane Waldron precipitated this when Eberflus couldn’t properly manage the games this year. Bad situational coaching.
Right, but they could have just moved on last offseason.
They had opportunities at really good HCs like Sean Peyton or Jim H. Ownership is just too cheap to pay up for them. Expect another merry-go-round of good coordinators taking a shot at another HC job, bringing less experienced coordinators to coordinate for them. Best they can hope for is BB/Daboll or Vrabel/insert OC.
Those coaches were never coming here. I don’t believe it had anything to do with being cheap. That is an old and tired narrative. The Bears have top notch team facilities to practice in. They spend the cap every year. Coach salaries are a dot on the bottom line. Save the cheap talk for the Cubs and White Sox. The playing field is level in the other sports in town. Now if you said the level of control a coach wants, maybe. Size of ego, maybe. But definitely not being cheap.
The Bears could have Brady, Sanders, Rice, AB, Moss, Gronk, a HOF Oline, 11 pro bowlers on defense, be playing the school of the blind each and every week and STILL would be the laughingstock of the NFL.
The Bears are bad, but are they the laughingstock? I don’t agree with insulting teams for pleasure’s sake, but if you were to rank these teams, would the Bears be lower than the whomever’s paying Deshaun Watson right now? Or the team who owner gives free cocktail showers to lucky fans? Or the team that still uses Trent Baalke to make business decisions?
Haters gonna spew.
You’re a moron
Bye!
Poles apparently will get to keep his GM position. The firing was highly necessary for the fan base and well over due for the organization. The Bears with current young talent and with the right head coach could be competitive for years to come.
Perfect timing by the Bears. I’m sure there’s a Black Friday sale out there somewhere where they can get a deal on another Matt.
Ride out the season. Early in off season hire Ravens OC Monken.
Right decision was made
This had to be done! As a long time Chicago sports fan I’ve seen some bad sports teams and leadership over the many years. The Bears, White Sox, Cubs, Bulls and Blackhawks. I’m an old guy now and I must say Eberflus was one of the most incompetent of them all. It appeared to me that he wanted to be fired and just move on demonstrated by his baffling decisions and/or lack there of. I wish Thomas Brown the very best. I hope he is successful and helps this organization.
As a fan of sanity, if not the Bears, CTA loser.
Kevin Warren and Ryan Poles inherited Eberflus. Given Poles background I’m not expecting them to get caught up in the trendy/hot name of 2024 or anyone from the college ranks. I suspect the following will be the short list:
Ben Johnson – not sure if he’d want the job.
Kliff Kingsbury – not sure he’s a good fit.
Brian Flores – If the Miami rumors were true, he’d be out – if not might be fit.
Aaron Glenn – would be a fit if he has a OC of the Bears liking in his pocket.
Bobby Slowik – might be out due to the Texans semi collapse in 2024.
Wildcard – Josh McCown he’s made Sam Darnold relevent.
What about Saleh? He built a great defense with the Jets, handled ownership dysfunction rather well, and really can’t be blamed for the offense because of being forced to start practice squad-level QBs.
I think Vrabel would be a great fit
The short list…
Ben Johnson — just gave up a superior opportunity in DC
Kliff Kingsbury — currently going through yet another drop in performance second half of the season
Brian Flores — Not too sure I want him guiding a young and upcoming QB
Todd Monken — He has Baltimore playing like a machine since taking over
Rich Bisaccia — People mock Mark Davis for not hiring him, Chicago can step up
Mike Vrabel — He will be able to pick his spot next year
Wildcard — Byron Leftwich
I don’t see the Washington situation as superior.
I like Slowik’s play calling a lot, actually. I doubt that Houston fires him (I don’t consider him responsible for Houston’s o-line self-immolating), but if he does, he won’t be hired as a head coach. Chicago might be able to get him as an offensive coordinator in that scenario, which could allow him to be paired with a more veteran head coach…such as, say, Mike Vrabel.
He doubled down on a monumental brain fart. There was no other option.
By thine own hands, your title is revoked and your head coaching career forfeit.
He was lost, the way that game ended you can justify it and he actually tried to.
Not counting this in season Hardknocks because they have a loop hole, but the NYG and Bears took a beating. Last year Jets resulted in bad season.
Bear minimum (no pun) that game should have been tied yesterday. No guarantee they’d have won but that was rudimentary.
Yeah, the coach is the problem, not the conceited, in over his head QB. I seem to remember Caleb saying last year he was so great that he would single handedly elevate the team that drafted him to elite status. So far he looks like a child playing with grown ups. Number one thing you don’t do is tell your teammates how good you are before ever playing a down in the NFL. Humility, it works for Burrow, it works for Mahomes, why wouldn’t it work for a guy who’s never done a damn thing in pro football? He looks overmatched and unsure now that he’s actually playing. But remember he was demanding shares in whatever franchise he went to because he was THAT good, or so he thought. These teams really need to stop letting the media or the fans decide their draft picks. This guy had serious flaws and the defensive coordinators didn’t take long to figure him out. Maybe a new coach helps him find his groove, but so far he’s looking like the second coming of good old Anthony “Big Tony Bounce Pass” Richardson .This is my opinion, and observation, if you don’t like it, oh well.
Burrow is extremely cocky—in a great way. The coaching and protection have absolutely been huge problems. Williams is very talented and I still think he’ll be a star.
Cockiness on its own is not a great quality. Confidence is, but not cockiness. In your example, Burrow doesn’t spend that much time talking about himself. I really think that the cockiness perception with him is about 90% how he looks.
But, in any case, it’s not the Bengals have lived up to expectations the last two years. Burrow has been a stud on a lagging team this year, no doubt, but the Bengals overall haven’t exactly made good on that supposed cockiness the last two years.
Burrow doesn’t claim to be the greatest thing since sliced bread. In fact he will tell you Patrick Mahomes or Lamar Jackson is the best QB in the league. He’s very humble for a guy making 50 million a year and has already been to a SB. Cocky with the guys is one thing, claiming to be the best QB in history while you’re in college is another. These guys have no idea what they’re in for when they hit the NFL.
Williams has never once said he was the greatest thing since sliced bread. Get over the hate.
I don’t like it.
I could see Aaron Glenn with Thomas staying on as OC.
They should hire Urban Meyer if they want to give this team a good strong kick in the ass
Legend in college football … failure in the NFL. Documented.
Let’s make a list of potential candidates who have the pedigree to succeed as the Bears next HC. They don’t have to be currently unemployed. I’ll start.
Doug Peterson
Luke Fickell
You really want Pederson taking Williams over after he’s done so little with Lawrence?
In fairness, he wouldn’t have Baalke. But I would also have questions-even though his current GM is hard to work with and incompetent, this is the second time that Pederson has had difficulty getting along with management.
I’m not a Bears fan. Of course I want Pederson ruining..eh, running their offense for years to come.
I was referencing the Bears ineptitude at hiring competent coaches. I guess that wasn’t obvious enough, even with Fickell on the list.
Slow drip of death, Bears finally did it.
TRACE ARMSTRONG NEEDS TO STAY AWAY FROM THE BEARS . George McCaskey NEEDS to put a arm arm guard Halas hall and NOT let Armstrong in . 4 of his minions , Poles , Eberflus , Waldron and Getsey has caused havoc in the Bears organization . George stop counting your money, Warren. Worry about the franchise not a stadium impose. You better get this right Now . Pathetic organization.
For those who don’t follow off-field matters, Kevin Warren wants the Bears to have a government-funded sportsball palace in the city of Chicago when the club’s season ticket base has clearly said no. And it was only this week that the Bears settled up the overdue property taxes on Arlington Park.
The rest of that story is that the Bears will pay 2.3 billion themselves.
Bears. Unbelievable.
Williams will have a new coach and his third OC in less than a year. Then, next year they will fire the GM, who will eventually fire the HC because it’s not his guy. Williams will then start over again. This is how Da Bears destroy QBs. As a Packer fan, I’m supposed to be gleeful. However, it’s just too sad even for schadenfreude.
This Packers fan enjoys the revolving door of QBs and head coaches in Chicago. There is plenty of quality competition in the NFC North without their comic relief.
Well, that “comic relief” made you sweat bullets a couple of weeks ago. Get over yourself dairy boy.
There’s an assistant with the Chiefs that I hear will be a hot candidate this year, he has head coach experience too, he’s known for working with quarterbacks. I don’t know if they can convince Matt Nagy to leave Kansas City though.
Add this guy to the list of ex head coaches that will never get a 2nd chance
George McCaskey is the problem. He doesn’t know football. Bears need a new Chairman.
Lmao they actually did it haaha
I don’t know understand why any team with a #1 QB draft pick would not treat them like their first born. Seriously, so many teams neglect this.
At the start of the year they should’ve let Eberflus walk in a respectful manner then hire the very best offensive-minded coach they could find and use that 2nd 1st round pick on an OL to protect their most valuable asset, Caleb Williams.
All the conjecture and metrics and b.s. just leads to what you had before.
If they can’t get Ben Johnson (and they probably won’t due to “high road” decisions he might make), get the next best thing and strengthen the OL before they break Caleb.
This is the destination that makes the most sense for Belichick.
Bears Org will never give control that Belichick will want.
It’ll be no different with the next coach. Firing coaches changes nothing in cities like Chicago. The whoever is bankrolling all of these players, coaches and refs to underperform (purposefully) will continue to manipulate the outcome of games and keep embarrassing the city. The fans in Chicago suffer from amnesia, so expectations won’t change in that regard. They still think the Bears’/Bulls’/Cubs’ “luck” will change.