The Chicago Bears fired head coach Matt Eberflus on Friday, just a day after a critical mistake in game clock management contributed to the team’s 23-20 loss to the Detroit Lions on Thanksgiving Day. The defeat marked the Bears’ sixth straight loss.
In the wake of the firing, Bears general manager Ryan Poles announced that Thomas Brown, previously the team’s offensive passing game coordinator, will take over as interim head coach. This is the first time in franchise history that a head coach has been let go during the season.
Poles expressed gratitude for Eberflus’ dedication, saying, “I appreciate Matt’s hard work, professionalism, and commitment to the organization. We wish him and his family the best moving forward.”
The decision to part ways with Eberflus, in his third season as head coach, came after consultations with team chairman George McCaskey and President and CEO Kevin Warren. The Bears’ disappointing performance, including the failed clock management late in the game, played a key role in the firing.
“Bears fans have supported us through every challenge, and they deserve better results,” Warren said. “Our organizational structure is focused, aligned, and energized for the future.”
The controversy surrounding Eberflus intensified after he failed to call a timeout with 32 seconds left in the game, a move that could have allowed quarterback Caleb Williams to reset the offense following a sack. With the Bears needing 26 yards on third down from the Lions’ 41-yard-line, there was time for a short pass and a potential field goal attempt to tie the game. However, 26 seconds ran off the clock before the Bears finally snapped the ball with just six seconds remaining. Williams’ deep throw to Rome Odunze was incomplete as time expired.
Eberflus defended his clock management decision postgame, stating, “I like what we did there,” and explaining that he intended to use the timeout after a short pass, but Williams might not have received the signal.
Now, Brown, a 14-year coaching veteran, will guide the 4-8 Bears for the remainder of the season. He joined Chicago earlier this year after serving as offensive coordinator for the Carolina Panthers and spent nine seasons in college football, including three years as the offensive coordinator at the University of Miami from 2016-2018.
