The Chicago Bears have dismissed head coach Matt Eberflus, marking a historic decision as the franchise’s first in-season coaching change in its 105-year history. This move follows a disastrous endgame performance that cost them a potential comeback victory against the Detroit Lions.
Bears general manager Ryan Poles announced the decision after consulting with team chairman George McCaskey and CEO Kevin Warren. In the interim, assistant coach Thomas Brown, recently promoted to offensive coordinator, will step in as head coach.
“We decided to move in a different direction with the leadership of our football team,” Poles stated, citing the need for change after the team suffered its sixth consecutive loss on Thursday. Despite rallying from a 16-0 deficit and trailing by just three points late in the fourth quarter, the Bears faltered due to mismanagement of the clock and penalties.
In a critical moment, rookie quarterback Caleb Williams was sacked with 36 seconds remaining, but instead of using a timeout to stop the clock, the Bears attempted to set up another play, squandering precious time. The final snap, with just six seconds on the clock, resulted in an incomplete pass, leaving no time for a potential game-tying field goal.
Eberflus defended the decision-making after the game, claiming the team handled the situation appropriately. However, this latest failure added to a season riddled with heartbreaks, including a blocked game-winning field goal against Green Bay, a narrow 18-15 loss to Washington, and an overtime defeat by Minnesota.
Team CEO Kevin Warren expressed his support for Poles’ decision, emphasizing the importance of strong leadership to build a championship-caliber team. “Our fans have shown incredible loyalty and deserve better results. This decision reflects our commitment to a stronger, more unified future,” Warren said in a statement.
The Bears now face the challenge of regrouping under new leadership, aiming to restore confidence among their players and long-suffering fanbase.
