Chicago Bears Insider Predicts The Fates Of Fields And Eberflus

There can only be so many missed opportunities before an organization is forced to change something. The Chicago Bears wanted to see if the pairing of quarterback Justin Fields and head coach Matt Eberflus could produce better results in 2023. They'd have a better roster to work with and more familiarity with the respective systems. Sadly, it hasn't gone as hoped. Chicago is 5-9 and all but out of the playoff picture. That alone isn't why both are in hot water. It is how they got to this record.

Three of those nine losses came despite the Bears holding leads of 21, 12, and 10 in the 4th quarter against the Broncos, Lions, and Browns. Denver got their winning score off a Fields fumble. Detroit overcame their deficit in the final four minutes of the game. Cleveland got their comeback done thanks to 212 passing yards from 38-year-old Joe Flacco. This doesn't even count the other nine times the Bears came up short in one-score games since the start of last year. Still, some feel running it back one more time might be the best course of action.

Bill Zimmerman of Windy City Gridiron decided to ask team insider Kevin Fishbain of The Athletic the question directly on his Bears Banter podcast. What happens to Fields and Eberflus once the season ends?

The Chicago Bears' decision isn't as hard as it seems.

They basically have two potential courses. Either they keep Eberflus and Fields for another year, hoping one more infusion of talent to the roster can get them over the hump. Or they dismiss both and allow the next head coach to pick his quarterback. They can't keep Eberflus around for the next QB because it would create another Nagy situation from two years ago. A lame-duck coach short on time trying to develop a quarterback. They also can't keep Fields and fire Eberflus because it would limit the number of coaching candidates interested in taking the Bears job.

It is all or nothing. Fishbain believes that from what we've seen for almost two years, the partnership needs to end. The Chicago Bears have a good GM in place with Poles. He can find them talent. What they need is a competent QB-head coach partnership to bring everything together. Fields and Eberflus will never be that. The best thing to do is start fresh. Sure, there is a risk Fields might flourish elsewhere. That doesn't matter. He isn't in Chicago. The Bears need to find somebody who will.