Matt Eberflus likely felt frustrated and a little lost after Sunday’s dispiriting loss to the Green Bay Packers. After such an active off-season to upgrade the roster with more talent, the Chicago Bears head coach saw a team in exactly the same place they were at the end of last season. They lost in a blowout 38-20, with both sides of the ball looking overwhelmed and undisciplined. Nobody can pinpoint what happened. Yet here is the inescapable truth. That marked the 11th straight loss for Eberflus as a coach. He’s now 3-15.
Yes, the guy hasn’t had much talent to work with in that time, but the NFL is a bottom-line business. The longer this losing streak continues, the hotter Eberflus’ seat is liable to get. One would think the Bears wouldn’t possibly fire the head coach after only two seasons. Usually, that would be the case. Except there is a new piece on the board that must be accounted for.
That is Kevin Warren.
Don’t forget the Bears hired Eberflus and GM Ryan Poles before he took over as team president. While Warren has publicly stated his full support of the two, everybody knows how constant losing can change minds in a hurry.
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Matt Eberflus can’t afford too many games like that.
Remember what Warren said. He’s here to win championships. Raising the expectations is something he values most. Everywhere he’s worked has reflected that mentality. He also isn’t afraid to make changes to the organization if he senses things aren’t working. In 2005, he joined the Minnesota Vikings as a top executive. The team went 9-7 that year. Still, team president Mark Wilf chose to clean house the next off-season anyway. He felt the organization lacked the leadership to carry it forward.
Warren will continue supporting Matt Eberflus, as he should. His job right now is to do everything in his power to help the team win. That means offering encouragement and advice whenever possible. That said, the new Bears president is a man of action. In only two years as Big Ten commissioner, he expanded the conference to absorb new programs like USC and UCLA while also negotiating a lucrative TV deal.
Don’t think for a second he would fear making a change to the coaching staff if he feels it necessary. Eberflus doesn’t have to make the playoffs. He can’t afford another three-win season, though. If he talks about holding guys to a high standard, the same must apply to him.
