Matt Eberflus has been fired as the Bears’ head coach

The Chicago Bears have fired head coach Matt Eberflus, the team announced Friday afternoon, making history. This marks the first time in the franchise’s 105-year history that a head coach was fired during the season.

Eberflus finished his tenure as Bears head coach with a 14-32 record in more than two seasons.

ESPN’s Adam Schefter was first to report the news Friday afternoon. Thomas Brown will be interim head coach.

Team chairman George McCaskey has opposed such moves in the past, but this one seemed more likely after Thursday’s 23-20 loss to the Detroit Lions.

His decision not to call a timeout on third down and just outside field goal range certainly didn’t help. But it was the tenor and tone in the locker room that may have had a bigger impact after the team’s sixth straight loss.

Players openly criticized Eberflus’ decisions and some appeared to have ignored his post-game message.

This obviously wasn’t a one-game decision.

Eberflus was given the keys to a talented squad that ultimately underperformed throughout the 2024 season. The team’s decline from a 4-2 start to six straight losses is controversial, with the team losing four games by one point in heartbreaking fashion and Eberflus’ teams failing in life-or-death situations were able to perform.

According to the Associated Press, his record in one-score games is the worst among NFL head coaches with more than 20 games decided by seven points or fewer. That’s a brutal statistic that has defined this season. The Bears also haven’t won a real road game since Nov. 27 of last year and have a road record of 3-19 under Eberflus’ tenure.

These things have something to do with coaching. Although he is known as an excellent defensive player, his game management is questioned. This includes the use of the watch and challenges that he regularly struggled with.

Eberflus was hired on January 27, 2022 by General Manager Ryan Poles, who had officially assumed his position just a few days earlier. The pair built a solid working relationship and regularly praised each other for their efforts, but ultimately results matter most and Eberflus could attract a talented squad that wins regularly.

Pace considered a head coach change last season, but retained Eberflus. The continuity achieved prior to the draft pick of Caleb Williams ultimately didn’t last long, forcing the No. 1 overall pick to start over with a new head coach and a new offensive plan.

Please stay tuned for updates and more on this developing story.