Matt Eberflus is somehow the forgotten name this off-season, even though he is the Chicago Bears head coach. GM Ryan Poles got most of the attention for his work trying to load up the roster for the coming season. Shane Waldron got lots as the new offensive coordinator. Last but not least, Caleb Williams is the star of the show as the #1 overall pick and the Bears’ latest swing at quarterback. Yet nobody can argue the course of this season comes down to how well Eberflus handles his talented young roster.
People remain skeptical of the veteran coach. While they don’t dispute his prowess as a defensive playcaller, the concerns linger about his ability to get both sides of the ball executing at a high level. Memories persist about how the 2023 season went with two dismissed coaches, multiple locker room controversies, and three ugly 4th quarter collapses. Yet through all of that, Eberflus still managed to reach a 7-10 record. Such resilience in the face of near-constant setbacks is the sign of a capable coach.
That might explain why Las Vegas oddsmakers have him as a co-favorite for Coach of the Year.
Matt Eberflus understands the pressure on him.
This will be his third season. The generally accepted belief is head coach get three years to establish their vision and identity for a team. If they fail to produce a winning record in that time, they will be replaced. While Eberflus has shown improvement through his first two years, this will be the last of that window for him to break through. Luckily, this is by far the best roster he’s coached on yet. The defense remains strong, headlined by Pro Bowl pass rusher Montez Sweat and All-Pro cornerback Jaylon Johnson. Offensively, they’ve stacked the roster around Williams with D.J. Moore, Keenan Allen, Rome Odunze, and Cole Kmet.
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Even schedule projections indicate the Bears should have a manageable slate of games this year. The only big hurdle is getting through a tough division with the Lions and Packers. Matt Eberflus is widely respected for his ability to handle pressure. Poles has said this multiple times. Last year somewhat proved it. The excuses are gone now. The rebuild is ending. It is time to go win some football games. Winning Coach of the Year would be the ultimate vindication, both for him and for the people in the building who stuck with him.
