Chicago Bears fans are hopeful for the future after Eberflus’ firing – NBC Chicago

Chicago Bears head coach Matt Eberflus was fired Friday morning following a devastating Thanksgiving Day loss to the Detroit Lions. This marked the first midseason firing of a head coach in team history.

Many fans told NBC Chicago it was one of the best decisions the Bears made all season.

Eberflus’ dismissal was followed by six defeats in a row and questionable statements from the coaching staff.

Bears President and CEO Kevin Warren said in a statement Friday: “Our fans have stood with us and met every challenge, and they deserve better results.” Our organizational and operating structure is strong, focused, aligned and energized for the future.”

For many fans it is a sigh of relief and hope for the future.

“I think they had to do it, as a team could suffer so many bad losses…they had to make a change,” fan Dennis Donn said.

Another fan, Drew Feldstein, agreed.

“I love it. I think it’s obviously overdue. I think it was obviously tactical for the Bears to do it after a few mishaps this season,” he said.

So what’s next?

Bears offensive coordinator Thomas Brown will take over as interim head coach. Brown has been the leader of Chicago’s offense each of the last three weeks, a unit that combined for a league-high 22 third-down conversions and 46 second-half points scored. That’s the third-highest number in the NFL since Week 11.

Fans have a few things on their Bears’ Christmas wish list for the future.

“Build an offensive line and make the players believe in the coaching staff,” said Ray Garcia, a longtime fan.

“If they’re thinking about getting a new stadium, they better get a new coach and start winning,” Donn said.

The Bears play the San Francisco 49ers on December 8th.