The Chicago Bears have been eerily silent for the past 48 hours since their regular season once again ended with a dispiriting loss to the Green Bay Packers. People have eagerly awaited signs from Halas Hall on what the organization has planned for the off-season. Namely, it's a rampant debate on what will happen to head coach Matt Eberflus and his coaching staff. What's been unclear throughout the silence is who will be making that decision. Some feel it is the call of GM Ryan Poles. Others wonder if team president Kevin Warren will assert his authority.
Dianna Russini, a top insider for The Athletic, has covered the coaching carousel thoroughly for weeks. She correctly projected before everybody else that Giants defensive coordinator Don Martindale would leave the organization. So when she reports something, it is important to take note. She had an update on the Bears' situation a few days ago. It is crystal clear to her that any decision regarding a coaching change will belong to team ownership, with Warren making the recommendation.
"Team CEO/president Kevin Warren has been watching, taking notes and evaluating his head coach and team all season. Though ownership will have the final say on the future of Matt Eberflus and staff, Warren will have a strong hand in the decision. Warren recently shared that he appreciates the energy of the team around Halas Hall but offered no endorsements of his head coach.
So what can we expect from Warren? He hasn’t made any knee-jerk decisions this season, giving the staff the entire regular season to show they are the right group. He’s described as methodical. Unemotional. A planner."
Kevin Warren may want to put his own stamp on the franchise.
Remember, Eberflus was hired by Ted Phillips and George McCaskey. As of now, Warren hasn't had any significant influence on the franchise's direction. While there is no justifiable reason to fire Ryan Poles, the same can't be said for Eberflus. He owns one of the worst winning percentages in franchise history through two seasons. He holds the longest losing streak in franchise history (14 games), blew three double-digit 4th quarter leads in two months, built a subpar offensive staff, and still hasn't beaten the Packers. His only two arguments for staying are an improved defense and overcoming a 0-4 start to reach a marginally better 7-10.
The status quo has been the trademark of this franchise for a long time. It was hoped Kevin Warren would bring a fresh perspective to the organization. He's had an entire season to evaluate where the Bears are at. Now, we wait to see what that assessment will be. Rumors are that Eberflus is pleading his case right now, charting a plan for how he can fix the problems that plagued the team this past season. Kevin Warren and Poles will listen and then discuss it with the McCaskeys before making a decision.
Here is hoping it's the right one, whatever it is.
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