Matt Eberflus' first head-coaching tenure in the NFL will last more than two seasons.
The Chicago Bears decided to retain Eberflus heading into the 2024 campaign despite plenty of speculation throughout the 2023 season about whether he would be fired.
ESPN's Adam Schefter reported Eberflus is expected to return after "extensive meetings" with Bears management on Monday and Tuesday.
Per NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, Eberflus will likely hire a proper defensive coordinator even though he's likely retain defensive play-calling duties, and they are replacing offensive coordinator Luke Getsy.
Ian Rapoport @RapSheet<a href="">#Bears</a> coach Matt Eberflus will likely remain as the defensive play-caller, though he's expected to hire a true defensive coordinator. Now, he'll hire an OC, as well. To work with with Justin Fields or...? <a href="">
Had Eberflus been fired after just two seasons, it would have continued a pattern for Chicago ever since it fired Lovie Smith following a 2012 season that saw the team finish 10-6. Smith coached for nine seasons and went 81-63 with two NFC Championship Game appearances and a Super Bowl berth.
Since then, the Bears cycled through Marc Trestman (two years), John Fox (three years) and Matt Nagy (four years) before Eberflus and have not won a single playoff game during that span. In fact, the team has finished with a winning record just once since moving on from Smith.
Eberflus was a change from his direct predecessor since he had a defensive background compared to Nagy's offensive background.
Yet the change in approach did not immediately pay off.
Despite Eberflus being the defensive coordinator of the Indianapolis Colts the four seasons prior to joining the Bears, Chicago finished dead last in the league in points allowed per game and 29th in yards allowed per game during the 2022 campaign.
It responded by adding notable defensive players such as linebackers Tremaine Edmunds and T.J. Edwards, and things did improve down the stretch. Still, it wasn't good enough as Chicago finished 20th in points allowed per game and 12th in yards allowed per game in 2023.
That is not to say defense has been the only problem.
The hope entering the 2023 campaign was that Justin Fields would take significant strides as a passer after an electrifying season running the ball in 2022. However, early struggles indicated those strides were not going to come as quickly as fans were hoping, and the quarterback turned some heads when he told reporters in September he wasn't playing freely and was perhaps overthinking some on the field.
He then gathered reporters to clarify the struggles rest on his shoulders and he wasn't throwing his coaches under the bus.
Kaitlin Sharkey @KRoseSharkeyJustin Fields wanted to speak to the media again inside the locker room following his comments on <a href="">#Bears</a> coaching earlier. <a href="">@GNSportsTV</a> <a href="">@WGNTV</a> <a href="">
Fields' comments came during the same chaotic week that defensive coordinator Alan Williams resigned, $100,000 of equipment was stolen from Soldier Field and the team lost by 31 points to the Kansas City Chiefs.
To the quarterback's credit, he responded by throwing for 335 yards and four touchdowns the next time up against the Denver Broncos, but even that wasn't enough to get the win. He then missed time with a thumb injury, which prevented him from building immediate momentum after impressive showings against the Broncos and Washington Commanders.
Safe to say it was fairly clear early on that Eberflus' second season was not going to live up to elevated expectations that were in place going into the campaign.
To the coach's credit, things did improve after a 2-7 start. Fields returned and impressed at times, the defense started playing at a much higher level, and DJ Moore was a true No. 1 receiver.
Still, even that left the team with a sense of what could have been since it blew commanding leads against the Broncos, Detroit Lions and Cleveland Browns. Losing in that fashion three different times was incredibly unlikely, and the blown leads ultimately cost the Bears their chance of making a late playoff run:
Clay Harbor @clayharbs82The percentage chance to lose all three games?<br><br>.003<br><br>Matt Eberflus should play the lotto. <a href="">#DaBears</a> <a href="">#Bears</a> <a href="">
Chicago finished 7-10 in 2023, missing the playoffs. The blown lead in Week 15 against Cleveland stood out in particular, as it followed two straight wins and ended renewed hope at a late push.
There remain plenty of long-term question marks about the franchise, including whether Fields is the answer at quarterback or if the team will turn to a rookie in the draft with the No. 1 overall pick. However, the front office does not have to worry about finding a new head coach this offseason following this decision.
The organization has a proud history but has consistently fallen behind rivals in the NFC North during the course of the last 10-plus years. Ideally for Bears fans, continuity with this coaching choice can provide more reason for optimism and actual results on the field after an extended stretch of struggles.
