In a historic move, the Chicago Bears fired head coach Matt Eberflus midseason, marking the first time in the franchise's 100-plus year history that a coach has been let go during the season.
The decision came just hours after Eberflus held a press conference in which he expressed confidence that he would be leading the Bears against the San Francisco 49ers on December 8.
Black Friday: For the first time in the 100-plus year history of the franchise, the Chicago Bears have made an in-season head-coaching change, firing Matt Eberflus.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) November 29, 2024More News: Bears Fire Matt Eberflus, Name Interim Head Coach
Bears fans are known for their strong feelings about their hometown team, even among other NFL franchises, and after a season of disappointments under Eberflus, it is safe to say that they are celebrating.
On Twitter/X, @BarstoolBigCat posted, "I can't believe the Bears did the right thing for once. There was no way Eberflus could coach another game for this team given the last month.Now the real work begins. The next hire is the most important in Bears history given what we have in Caleb Williams. HAVE to nail this"
I can’t believe the Bears did the right thing for once. There was no way Eberflus could coach another game for this team given the last month.
Now the real work begins. The next hire is the most important in Bears history given what we have in Caleb Williams. HAVE to nail this
@dwcprodz got a little less philosophical, posting a video of various Bears players dancing and "MATT EBERFLUS HAS BEEN FIRED!!!!!!!!!!! THIS IS THE BEST THANKSGIVING WEEKEND EVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I AM FREED!!!!"
Others, like @KeiotaQ, commented on the timing of Eberflus' firing post-press conference, saying, "That was straight nasty work that the Bears allowed Eberflus to do his morning presser, just to fire him after 👀"
That was straight nasty work that the Bears allowed Eberflus to do his morning presser, just to fire him after 👀
— KIEQ ON THE MIC: A Chicago Bears Podcast (@KeiotaQ) November 29, 2024Sports betting organization @FanDuel possibly nailed the general tone of things most succinctly, merely posting a video of exuberant crowds cheering.
The Bears suffered a 23-20 loss on Thanksgiving to the Detroit Lions, marked by critical clock management issues in the fourth quarter. This game underlined the ongoing struggles with mismanagement at the coaching level, and it ultimately seemed to push the team toward a decision to finally fire Eberflus after weeks of frustration.
Following the loss to Detroit, speculation mounted that Eberflus could be let go, though he remained confident that he would continue coaching. However, the Bears made the decision to fire Eberflus, ending his tenure after nearly three seasons.
The team has named offensive coordinator Thomas Brown as interim head coach for the remainder of the season. Brown now faces the challenge of righting the ship and potentially earning consideration for the full-time role in the offseason.
During his time with Chicago, Eberflus posted a 14-32 record, including a dismal 5-19 mark in one-score games, the worst in NFL history for any coach with at least 20 such opportunities. His .304 win percentage is the third-worst in franchise history, trailing only John Fox (.292) and Abe Gibron (.274). Eberflus' firing makes him the first head coach in Bears history to be dismissed midseason.
Eberflus was hired in January 2022 after a successful stint as defensive coordinator for the Indianapolis Colts, where his defenses ranked in the top 10 in scoring three times. He took over a Bears team coming off a 6-11 season, but his tenure in Chicago saw the team miss the playoffs in each of his first two seasons.
Despite going 10-24 in his first two years, general manager Ryan Poles chose to retain Eberflus heading into the 2024 offseason, citing his leadership and desire for stability.
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However, Eberflus' tenure was marred by coaching instability. In less than two seasons, he fired eight coaches, including offensive coordinator Shane Waldron ahead of Week 11, replacing him with Brown. Waldron became the second offensive coordinator fired under Eberflus in 2024, following the dismissal of Luke Getsy and four other offensive coaches in January.
This turbulent coaching environment ultimately contributed to Eberflus' downfall and the decision to move forward with Brown as interim head coach. If social media is any indication, Bears fans seem pretty okay with that.
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