Bears Fire Coach Matt Eberflus, New General Manager to Lead Search for Next Head Coach
The Chicago Bears have fired head coach Matt Eberflus, the team’s fourth coach since 2012, after a disappointing 4-8 record this season. This marks the seventh time in the past 12 years that the team has finished last or tied for last in the NFC North.
Eberflus was given another chance to turn the team around, but repeated coaching errors ultimately led to his downfall. The decision to fire him was made just hours after he met with the media, an awkward situation for the franchise.
Interim President of Football Operations Ted Waibel explained the circumstances leading up to the decision. “In retrospect, could we have done it better? Yes. I’ll be the first one to raise my hand, yes. But we were trying to be respectful and we did not know our decision when he started his press conference.”
General Manager Ryan Poles will remain with the team and will lead the search for the next head coach. Poles is described as “young, talented, bright, and hard-working” and has done everything in his power to bring a winner to Chicago.
In the meantime, interim head coach Thomas Brown has made some changes to the coaching staff, promoting WR coach Chris Beatty to offensive coordinator and naming Eric Washington as the defensive play-caller. Richard Hightower will remain special teams coach.