Bears GM Ryan Poles Breaks Silence On Matt Eberflus Firing
The Chicago Bears have made history by firing Matt Eberflus, marking the first time in the franchise’s 100-plus years that an in-season head coaching change has occurred. The news broke just hours after Eberflus spoke to the media during a typical 9 AM Zoom call following a road game. Fans and media alike have largely praised the Bears for taking this crucial step.
The Bears really made Matt Eberflus do a 9 AM Zoom conference and then fired him.
Honestly hilarious but total Bears.
— Dave (@dave_bfr) November 29, 2024
Bears General Manager Ryan Poles, who did not hire Eberflus (as he was hired before Poles took the GM position), issued a statement regarding the decision to part ways with the head coach. Here’s what he had to say about the move.
“This morning, after meeting with George and Kevin, we informed Matt of our decision to move in a different direction with the leadership of our football team and the head coaching position. I thank Matt for his hard work, professionalism and dedication to our organization. We extend our gratitude for his commitment to the Chicago Bears and wish him and his family the best moving forward.”
As expected, Ryan Poles delivered a classy statement. President Kevin Warren also released a statement regarding the surprising firing of Matt Eberflus.
“I support Ryan and the decision that was made this morning. We understand how imperative the head coaching role is for building and maintaining a championship-caliber team, leading our players and our organization. Our fans have stood by us and persevered through every challenge, and they deserve better results. Our organizational and operational structure is strong, focused, aligned and energized for the future.”
In the end, this firing is a positive step, but it might have come too late. With the season nearly over, a miraculous turnaround seems unlikely. The Bears missed the opportunity to pair Caleb Williams with a new head coach at the start of his rookie season as well. But the key focus now is determining who will lead the next chapter of Bears’ history. It’s crucial to get the next head coach right, and that process begins with evaluating interim head coach Thomas Brown during the final five games of the season. Here are some names to watch as the head coaching search begins:
- Ben Johnson
- Liam Coen
- Joe Brady
- Mike Vrabel
- Kellen Moore
- Aaron Glenn
- Kyle Shanahan (if San Francisco fires him or he chooses to leave)
Regardless of who the Bears pursue, this offseason promises to be pivotal. All eyes will be on GM Ryan Poles as he navigates his first head coaching search.