Matt Eberflus Isn’t Marc Trestman. He’s Somebody Much Worse

Matt Eberflus believed he was ready for the challenges of being an NFL head coach. He’d learned under college legends like Nick Saban and Gary Pinkel. Four years as a defensive coordinator for a successful organization had prepared him for the next step. The Chicago Bears would need work, but he had the systems and structure necessary to get everything pointed in the right direction. Things started well enough. Chicago went 3-4 through his first seven games, capped by a 33-14 beatdown of the Patriots in New England.

Optimism was sky-high. Nobody predicted the next 12 months would be some of the most miserable in Bears history. A week after losing 41-10 in Kansas City, Eberflus watched his team blow a 28-7 lead in the 4th quarter to reach 0-4 on the season. It was marked by a disastrous 4th and 1 decision that was stuffed for no gain. If that weren’t bad enough, he’s embroiled in a controversy with wide receiver Chase Claypool, who was sent home by the team over comments criticizing the coaching staff.

People are already comparing this reign to Marc Trestman and his 2014 fiasco. In truth, it’s worse than that. Eberflus is beginning to mirror another all-time failed head coach: Hue Jackson.

Matt Eberflus can’t lay claim to even Trestman’s legacy.

While the former Bears coach was terrible, he at least had some success. His team almost won the division in 2013, and had productive offenses in both of his seasons. Eberflus can’t even offer that much. His legacy is getting much closer to Jackson’s.

Constant losing

Eberflus is 3-18 in his tenure so far, highlighted by a losing streak that hit 14 games on Sunday. Jackson was 3-36-1 during his time in Cleveland. He went 1-15 his first year and winless in his second. It remains beyond baffling why the Browns decided to keep him for a third season.

Locker room dysfunction

You know a coach has leadership issues when he struggles to control a locker room. Jackson was notorious for it in Cleveland. He bungled press conferences constantly, making statements that felt shallow and evasive. He repeatedly made assurances that they were getting better even when losses mounted. Players were undisciplined, committing penalties and turnovers at an alarming rate. He was often too loyal to “his” guys. Players grew to hate him because he demanded accountability from them but not himself. Sound familiar?

Not performing at his supposed expertise

Jackson was well-regarded as a competent offensive coordinator during a four-year span between Oakland and Cincinnati. It was felt he might finally fix the chronic offensive issues Cleveland had. They were 32nd and 31st in the two years he had the call sheet. Matt Eberflus is supposedly a defensive specialist. His unit is 31st in points allowed and 27th in total yards.

While Jackson was far more devious in many respects as a coach, the parallels are still undeniable. Here’s some perspective. Eberflus must win four of the next seven games just to tie Abe Gibron for the worst Bears record through two seasons. Nobody believes he has any prayer of doing that, which says everything you need to know.