The Chicago Bears fanbase seems to have lost confidence in head coach Matt Eberflus, but general manager Ryan Poles might not share that view.
On the November 7 episode of “The Sick Podcast With Adam Rank: Chicago Bears,” the host mentioned that, according to sources within the league, Eberflus’ job is safe for now, regardless of the outcome of the 2024 season.
“I’ll say this … Matt Eberflus actually has a five-year contract, so he might be more secure than fans think,” Rank noted. “I spoke to some people around the NFL who are close to Ryan Poles, and they suggested that, no matter what, Eberflus will return.”
Eberflus is currently 4-4 for the season and holds a 14-28 overall record in his two and a half years with the Bears.
Matt Eberflus Likely Gets Another Season With Caleb Williams in Chicago
According to Rank, part of Ryan Poles’ rationale for retaining Matt Eberflus in 2025 is to avoid a repeat of the transition issues that surrounded former quarterback Justin Fields when Poles initially brought Eberflus on board.
Fields, drafted 11th overall in 2021 by former GM Ryan Pace and head coach Matt Nagy, became a challenging situation for Poles. The Bears had invested a high draft pick in Fields just before hiring Poles as GM, who then brought in Eberflus, previously the defensive coordinator for the Indianapolis Colts, as head coach. The team couldn’t easily move on from Fields right away, but eventually, they traded him to the Pittsburgh Steelers for a conditional sixth-round pick when the chance arose to draft Caleb Williams first overall in 2024.
Rank explains that Poles is committed to giving Eberflus a fair opportunity with this current roster, emphasizing that continuity holds significant value in professional sports, especially in the NFL.
Matt Eberflus Can Make Strong Case to Remain With Bears Over Tough Stretch of Schedule
Now two and a half years into their rebuild, the Bears have built a solid defensive unit and surrounded their rookie quarterback with skill position talent, much of which is locked into multi-year contracts.
The offensive line, though hindered by injuries, has room for improvement, and enhancing this group while allowing the team to mature could position Chicago strongly for 2025.
The Bears are just one last-second Washington Commanders play away from a potential 5-3 record, with the New England Patriots coming to Soldier Field on Sunday. However, the back half of the season is packed with tough matchups, making a winning season unlikely.
Despite this, Eberflus’ job security for 2025 may remain intact regardless of the final record this season. While a rough start or finish next season could put him at risk, there’s still plenty of football to be played before then.
Leave a Reply