The Chicago Bears have two games left to play. To this point, their 2023 season can best be called a mixed bag. It was encouraging for several reasons. They already doubled their win total from last year. Several young draft picks have begun emerging as legitimate front-line starters. The defense is ascending back into top-10 territory. At the same time, it's been a bumpy road. The passing game is still among the NFL's worst despite an upgraded offensive line and the addition of a star receiver in D.J. Moore. The team has lost double-digit leads in the 4th quarter three times this year. All of this falls at the feet of Matt Eberflus.
Much of his tenure as head coach has been rough. He now holds the record for longest losing streak in franchise history at 14. Two of his assistant coaches were dismissed from the team for unknown HR-related reasons. To endure all that and still go 6-5 over his last 11 games is encouraging, even if valid concerns remain. It might explain why, according to Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune, there is a general sense around the NFL from notable decision-makers that Eberflus will get a third season.
That is the way things are trending.
"That’s one of the pressing questions for the fan base and the organization. I can’t tell you with certainty either way what will shake down after the Jan. 7 season finale in Green Bay. The vibe around the league since the weekend, in talking with a few folks from different organizations, is that Eberflus could be safe to return in 2024. Let’s keep in mind two more games remain part of the evaluation process...
...It’s also possible general manager Ryan Poles wants to draft a quarterback and align an offensive-minded head coach with the future of the franchise. That cannot be discounted. But if I had to venture a guess right now, Eberflus will be back in 2024. That’s based only on reading the tea leaves, understanding how the franchise generally operates and surveying the opinions of others around the league."
Retaining Matt Eberflus would create an interesting decision.
Namely, it raises the question of what to do with offensive coordinator Luke Getsy and quarterback Justin Fields. Would the Bears run it back another year with those two despite lacking evidence of true success together? That feels unlikely. It means one of two things will happen. Eberflus will replace one of them, or he will replace both of them. If Getsy is gone, the Bears will try to find a new offensive coordinator who can better work to Fields' strengths. If Fields is gone, they likely target a QB in the draft who fits what Getsy prefers at the position.
If both are gone, then Matt Eberflus tries to play matchmaker, hiring a new offensive coordinator and getting his input on the QBs he'd prefer in the draft. The idea from the Bears' perspective is obvious. Eberflus seems to have the defense situated. All they have to do is figure out how to fix the offense. They're starting to get the talent problems solved. It is a question of scheming and capable quarterback play. Sadly, this is a problem they've faced many times in the past. Poles better hope he has solutions if he's going to ride it out with Eberflus.
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