The Chicago Bears made the controversial decision to retain head coach Matt Eberflus on Wednesday after announcing that offensive coordinator Luke Getsy and several other offensive coaches were fired. Fans and the media are frustrated with the move for several reasons due to how the Bears played in 2023 despite more than doubling their win total in 2022. Although Eberflus has made multiple questionable decisions during his head coaching tenure, he earned the right to be Chicago's head coach in 2024 after what he has battled through the last two years.
Eberflus Has Made the Necessary Improvements That are Desired During A Rebuild
When general manager Ryan Poles hired Eberflus back in January of 2022, the franchise made it clear that the 2022 season would be a rebuilding year as the goal was to be bad enough to secure a top-five draft selection in the 2023 NFL Draft and clear extensive dead cap-money to create salary cap space. Chicago was the worst NFL team in 2022, winning a league-low three wins and finishing the season with a 10-game losing streak. Despite lacking talent at several vital positions, Eberflus' players still played hard as the Bears made several games close but eventually lost.
With significant talent added to both the offense and defense during the previous offseason, including the acquisition of top-level wide receiver DJ Moore and the free agent signings of Tremaine Edmunds and T.J. Edwards, vast improvement was expected from Eberflus. As the season began, troubling regression was seen as the Bears would lose their first four games of 2023 as injuries and several scandals surrounded the team, including the sudden resignation of defensive coordinator Alan Williams after two games. Additionally, Eberflus' defense was one of the league's worst defensive units through their first four contests, allowing opposing offenses to score at will.
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Eberflus was facing the brink of termination after the team blew a 28-7 lead against the Denver Broncos, as many analysts believed he had lost his locker room and had no chance of turning the defense around. Heading into a Thursday Night contest four days after the embarrassing loss to Denver, the Bears won their first game of 2023 and snapped a 14-game losing streak by beating the Washington Commanders 40-20. From then on, Chicago played competitive and competent football for the remainder of the season, going 7-6, including a potential playoff push in December.
The improvement on defense from the start of the year to the end of the year is too significant to ignore, as the Bears finished 2023 in the top ten of several defensive categories. Chicago's defense nearly finished as a top-ten overall defense and had the best unit against the run. Most impressive is that Eberflus oversaw a pass defense that finished the best in the league in interceptions, picking off 22 passes despite only having three through the first five contests of the year.
Another impressive aspect of the 2023 season was Eberflus' resiliency and ability to keep his player vested through troubling times. In the three losses where Chicago blew leads late to Denver, Detroit, and Cleveland, they would win the following week against Washington, Minnesota, and Arizona. Following the losses, many analysts believed Eberflus would lose the locker room, but just the opposite occurred as the team came out and played inspired football.
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The other criticism of Eberflus has been that he has been outcoached by opposing coaches, but there have been moments where the opposite was seen towards the end of the year. In several vital games in December, there were moments where Chicago's head coach forced the hand of his opposition, whether it was making them take timeouts when they didn't need to or beating them in fourth-down situations. The progression is vital in believing that Eberflus can be even better in 2024, with more talent added in the upcoming offseason.
Eberflus' Flaws Need To Be Fixed But Didn't Warrant Being Fired Over Just Yet
The criticism of Eberflus is valid, as had the Bears been able to hold on to the three leads they held late against Denver, Detroit, and Cleveland, they would be preparing for the NFC Playoffs this weekend. Although there are rational reasons why Chicago's head coach can't be entirely blamed for the blown leads to Detroit and Denver, there are no excuses for the loss in Cleveland. In a late-game situation, Eberflus chose to bring an all-out blitz against a seasoned-veteran quarterback in Joe Flacco on a third-and-long situation. The decision was the wrong one by Eberflus as the Browns offense not only picked up the first down but later kicked a game-winning field goal.
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Additionally, Ebeflus has had issues getting his players motivated and prepared to play for games, as several times, the team came out flat and looked less motivated compared to their opponents. Against the Packers twice and the Vikings at home, the Bears looked unprepared and unmotivated despite having several reasons to be motivated. Chicago lost each contest, with two being very winnable, even with Eberflus' players being caught off guard.
Although the flaws and mistakes were concerning, Eberflus deserves an opportunity to show that he will learn and improve next season. Other than the losses against the Packers, Chicago's head coach showed that mistakes were corrected as the team lost their first matchup against the Lions and Vikings but won the second contests, both on the road. There wasn't enough justification for firing Eberflus for his shortcomings, as he consistently demonstrated improvement as the season progressed.
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Firing Eberflus after only two years, one of which was a deliberate rebuild with no legitimate desire to win, would have been a bad look for the organization, especially with progression being made in 2023. Had the Bears made the playoffs, their head coach would be in consideration for Coach of The Year honors and would have been a favorite to win the award with the turnaround seen. Although fans aren't thrilled about Eberflus being kept, their mindset can change quickly if the team makes the playoffs in 2024.
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