The moment Chicago Bears fans have been waiting for has arrived: head coach Matt Eberflus has been fired. For the first time in franchise history, the head coach has been fired midseason, and for good reason. It’s not an exaggeration to say Eberflus is one of the worst head coaches in the history of the NFL. Now that he’s gone, the future is shining brighter than a thousand suns for the Bears.
Source: The Bears are firing Matt Eberflus.
— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) November 29, 2024
The Bears Future Is Shining Bright After Firing Matt Eberflus
Matt Eberflus’ tenure as the Bears head coach ended with a disappointing 14-32 record and a 0-5 mark on challenges this season. There was an overwhelming amount of evidence to justify why Eberflus deserved to be fired. His tenure was best described by poor coordinator hires, ineptitude in challenging plays, an inability to hold leads, a lack of accountability, and poor game management.
Out of 221 coaches with 20+ career games decided by seven points or fewer, Eberflus’ .227 win percentage (5-17) ranks dead last.
This season alone, Eberflus oversaw a game-losing Hail Mary against the Washington Commanders, failed to position Cairo Santos for a closer field goal attempt against the Green Bay Packers, and let the clock expire with a timeout left against the Detroit Lions.
If not for his glaring mismanagement, the Bears could be sitting at 7-5 instead of 4-8. But enough about him—let’s focus on why the Bears future is trending up.
Caleb Williams Is The Franchise Quarterback
Let’s be clear: the Bears’ struggles haven’t been because of Caleb Williams. Against NFC North opponents, he’s been outstanding:
- 75/117 (64.1% completion)
- 827 passing yards
- 142 rushing yards
- 5 touchdowns, 0 interceptions
- 98.8 passer rating
He’s picked it up recently, and with a capable head coach now in place, the Bears can avoid the kind of embarrassing losses that have plagued them. Williams’ unique ability to create plays out of nothing is remarkable—it’s time to translate that talent into wins.
.@CALEBcsw with a dime to @idjmoore 😮💨
📺: #CHIvsDET on CBS pic.twitter.com/TUZzXawnf7
— Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears) November 28, 2024
Time to See What Thomas Brown Is Capable Of
The decision to fire offensive coordinator Shane Waldron and elevate Thomas Brown has revitalized the Bears’ offense. In the short time Brown has been calling plays, Caleb Williams has looked unstoppable, playing mistake-free football. He’s already broken the rookie record for most consecutive passes without an interception and is playing with newfound confidence. Brown even believes Williams hasn’t come close to reaching his full potential—something that may have been stifled under former head coach Matt Eberflus.
“At the end of the game, end of the half, he’s delivered, in a big way,” Brown said. “Which I think sometimes goes unnoticed because of the end result, which I get. But as a rookie quarterback who in my opinion has yet to scratch the surface of how good he can be. It’s my job and my focus to continue to try and find ways to make him the best he can be.”
It’s evident that Brown has the ability to unlock Williams’ full potential. Now, he’ll have the remainder of the season to prove himself as the interim head coach. If he doesn’t, the Bears will have plenty of options for a new head coach once the season ends.
2025 Free Agency & Draft
Caleb Williams has shown flashes of superstardom, and thanks to Matt Eberflus’ inability to win, the Bears now hold a likely top-15 draft pick. With a young, talented roster, the team is poised for improvement, especially after the offseason. The Bears are projected to have $82 million in cap space, allowing them to address several crucial needs. On top of that, they have three picks in the first two rounds of the 2025 NFL Draft. The potential is limitless for this team, and with a new head coach, the future is looking bright for the Chicago Bears.
Main Image: Lon Horwedel – USA Today Sports
