It is incredible to think how incredibly fast things can fall apart during an NFL season. The Chicago Bears went 4-2 through their first six games of 2024, including blowout victories over Jacksonville and Carolina. The team looked like it had found serious momentum and was equipped to challenge the rest of the NFC North. To go from that to 5-12, including a ten-game losing streak, was baffling. Caleb Williams admitted to Esquire Magazine that all of it took a physical and mental toll on him. All of this results in Matt Eberflus becoming the first Bears coach in franchise history to get fired midseason.
People were left wondering what in the world happened. How could a head coach lose a team so fast after it looked like they were positioning themselves for playoff contention? Williams didn’t speak on it for long during the interview but revealed when he felt Eberflus likely lost the locker room. It came in the wake of the devastating Hail Mary loss to the Washington Commanders. The coach’s poor decision to call soft coverage on the second-to-last play for a free 13 yards to set up the Hail Mary, refusing to call timeout when it was clear Tyrique Stevenson wasn’t paying attention, and not taking accountability for his mistakes after the game poisoned the locker room against him.
“How [Eberflus] handled it at that time, for that game, was, I think, one of the things that throughout the locker room people talked about and were annoyed by.”
Caleb Williams watched Eberflus dig his grave even further from there.
Failing to prepare the team against two mediocre opponents the next two weeks, Arizona and New England, only worsened matters. The poor preparation on the field goal try against Green Bay. More soft coverage in the overtime loss to Minnesota. Finally, despite clear confusion on offense, the failure to call a timeout in the final minute against Detroit. All of it led to an explosive confrontation led by veterans like Jaylon Johnson against Eberflus. It became clear the players were done with him. He was not a leader and didn’t deserve their respect. The Bears fired him right after Thanksgiving. Thomas Brown was promoted to his place for the rest of the season, and soon, Ben Johnson became the official replacement.
Caleb Williams would’ve preferred he not have to endure all of those setbacks as a rookie. Still, he is grateful for the experience that taught him the highs and lows of the NFL. It also led him to the opportunity to work with one of the best young offensive minds in the business. Sometimes, things work out the way they’re supposed to.
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