The Chicago Bears fired coach Matt Eberflus on Friday, less than 24 hours after a series of mental lapses unfolded in the chaotic, final 30 seconds of his team’s Thanksgiving Day loss at Detroit.
Eberflus’ sacking followed a meeting with Bears Chairman George McCaskey and team President Kevin Warren, according to General Manager Ryan Poles.
“This morning, after meeting with George and Kevin, we informed Matt of our decision to move in a different direction with the leadership of our football team and the head coaching position,” Poles said in a statement.
The storied, century-old franchise, which has won a Super Bowl and eight pre-Super Bowl titles, had never fired a coach in season until Friday.
“I thank Matt for his hard work, professionalism and dedication to our organization,” Poles added. “We extend our gratitude for his commitment to the Chicago Bears and wish him and his family the best moving forward.”
Warren acknowledged the importance of the head-coaching role and emphasized the team’s commitment to its fans.
“I support Ryan and the decision that was made this morning. We understand how imperative the head-coaching role is for building and maintaining a championship-caliber team, leading our players and our organization,” Warren said.
“Our fans have stood by us and persevered through every challenge, and they deserve better results. Our organizational and operational structure is strong, focused, aligned and energized for the future.”
Chicago lost, 23-20, to the Detroit Lions on Thursday in a game that ended in utter confusion.
The Bears had driven to the Lions’ 25-yard line and appeared to be in position to kick a tying field goal late in regulation. A 10-yard penalty against Teven Jenkins for illegal use of hands pushed Chicago back to the 35, making for a longer attempt that was still within kicker Cairo Santos’ range.
Chaos ensued after Bears quarterback Caleb Williams was sacked by Detroit’s Za’Darius Smith for a 6-yard loss with about 32 seconds left — as the clock kept ticking.
Eberflus opted against calling his third and final timeout at that moment. After the game, Eberflus said he wanted Willians to run one more play to recapture that lost yardage before calling his final timeout and sending Santos on for the kick.
But that urgency was not communicated to Williams, who slowly regrouped his teammates and lined them up. The precious seconds ticked away and a frozen Eberflus inexplicably failed to call timeout.
Williams finally took the snap with 5 seconds left and fluttered a deep pass that fell harmlessly incomplete as time expired. Even if that aimless heave had found the hands of Bears wide receiver Rome Odunze, he would’ve been tackled inbounds with no time left.
So the defeated Bears walked off Ford Field with an unspent timeout in their pocket, which would have allowed Chicago run multiple plays to possibly tie or win the game.
Offensive coordinator Thomas Brown was elevated to interim head coach.
Eberflus, a 54-year-old Toledo native, ends his Chicago tenure at 10-24.
The 4-8 Bears, losers of six straight, next play a week from Sunday, visiting the defending NFC-champion San Francisco 49ers.
The Thanksgiving Day disaster in Detroit came a month after the Bears lost to the Washington Commanders, 18-15, when Jayden Daniels connected with Noah Brown on a 52-yard Hail Mary as time expired.
Moments before Brown’s catch, Bears cornerback Tyrique Stevenson was busy taunting Commanders fans off to the side as the play was unfolding. He hurriedly got back to the action and tipped Daniels’ pass into Brown’s hands.