Going into the 2024 off-season, the Chicago Bears had two decisions to make. One was at head coach and the other was at quarterback. Most believed the latter was an easy one. The Bears held the #1 overall pick in the draft, and it looked like a strong class. Trading Justin Fields and taking the best one on their board felt like a no-brainer. As we all know, that is precisely what happened with the selection of Caleb Williams. However, the head coach decision was tougher. Matt Eberflus had improved from 3-14 to 7-10 in 2023 but also developed a concerning reputation for choking away winnable games.
Besides that, the organization risked doing the same thing they did with John Fox and Matt Nagy. They would draft a quarterback to pair with a head coach on the hot seat, the team would struggle, and the coach would be fired. Wouldn’t it make more sense to dismiss Eberflus and start fresh with a new coach? It didn’t go down that way. Chicago opted to keep him. Now they’re 4-6, in the middle of a four-game skid, and seem more discouraged than ever. That has led many to wonder who is most responsible for keeping Eberflus.
Some think George McCaskey refused to fire a coach after just two seasons due to money considerations. Others believe it was Kevin Warren, who values stability at head coach based on his experiences in St. Louis and Minnesota. However, insider Jeff Hughes of Da Bears Blog put those questions to bed.
“The other fallacy about Poles is he did not hire Eberflus. Nonsense. Poles met with the three candidates and was told he could open the search broadly if he so chose. He liked Flus and was singularly responsible for keeping Flus after 2023.”
The Matt Eberflus decision always belonged to Poles.
For months, there has been a persistent belief that Eberflus was thrust upon the Bears GM from the moment he arrived. This is because McCaskey and his search committee interviewed the coach first. Clearly, Poles was pressured to make the hire, just like Ryan Pace with Fox in 2017. Except the evidence doesn’t back this up. Every indication is that the only request made of Poles was to meet with Eberflus. If he didn’t feel it was the right fit, he was free to expand the coaching search at his leisure. Poles passed. He was sold from the moment they met.
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At every opportunity, the Bears GM has made it clear that he believes in Matt Eberflus as a coach and leader. He embodied many of the same traits that made Lovie Smith so successful in the 2000s. It isn’t hard to believe that Poles, who is known for his loyalty, pushed to give the coach another year. Now, one must wonder if that decision could end up costing the GM as the Bears hurtle towards their third straight losing season. Everybody knows Eberflus is gone. The big question is whether Poles might join him.
