Bears Insider Reveals Why Matt Eberflus Is Safer Than People Think
Two subjects have dominated Chicago Bears discussions for the past month. One is the looming decision GM Ryan Poles will have regarding the #1 pick and a possible quarterback change. The other is the fate of head coach Matt Eberflus. Remember, this man presided over the longest losing streak in franchise history (14 games) and has endured some of its most painful 4th quarter collapses along the way. That, along with the presence of team president Kevin Warren, leads many to believe he will get fired after the season.
However, the Bears’ recent surge of three wins in the past four games and the ascent of their young defense has many wondering if plans have changed. They’re 5-8, already improving on last season’s 3-14 record. A couple more wins down the stretch would prove the team is heading in the right direction. Is that enough to buy Eberflus another year, or are the earlier missteps too much to overlook?
In these situations, what the players think often matters. This is where it gets interesting. Team insider Adam Jahns of The Athletic provided an update on Bill Zimmerman’s Bears Banter podcast. He grew curious about Eberflus’ standing in the locker room during the team’s 0-4 start to the season in September. When he asked various players about the head coach, the answers he got surprised him.
Matt Eberflus never changed his approach.
That was something linebacker T.J. Edwards gave him credit for. It would’ve been easy to abandon his style and try anything to pull the team out of its skid. Instead, Eberflus kept plugging away with the same messages, insisting that the wins would come if everybody adhered to what he taught them and believed in each other. After that fourth straight loss, they turned around and blasted Washington 40-20 on Thursday Night Football. That felt like a real turning point of the season.
Starting with that game, they’ve gone 5-4 since, with the big win over the division-leading Lions last Sunday being the latest sign of real progress. Matt Eberflus hasn’t been perfect. He’s made his fair share of mistakes. The key is it appears he is learning from those mistakes. Word is he’s been open to changes, frequently speaking with leaders in the locker room about adjustments they can make to improve. Those sorts of things often endear a coach to players. He brings a disciplined hand to things but is always open to communication.
Jahns’ story offers the first real indication that the head coach might not see a change in 2024.