Last week, the Chicago Bears fired their head coach for the fifth time since January 2012, dismissing Matt Eberflus after less than three seasons in charge. The decision came down on Black Friday following an extensive meeting between GM Ryan Poles, team president Kevin Warren, and chairman George McCaskey. It was the first time in over a century that the Bears have done this. However, Poles had no regrets about the decision. He made that clear in Monday’s press conference.
While the GM didn’t look happy to be there, he still answered questions about what happened. From his answers, it appears the decision to fire Eberflus came from two directions. First and most obvious was the former coach’s inability to manage end-of-game decisions, constantly costing the team chances to win. The other was the growing fear that the locker room may fracture beyond repair. It had become apparent that Eberflus couldn’t command it anymore.
Ryan Poles knew he couldn’t let it go on any further.
The organization had tried to give Eberflus the benefit of the doubt. He’d pulled himself out of death spirals before. Last season was a perfect example, starting 0-4 and then finishing 7-6. Despite some misgivings about giving him the chance to oversee Caleb Williams’ early development, the Bears elected to maintain the status quo. However, it became clear after the New England loss that Ryan Poles risked the team imploding if the primary issue wasn’t removed. The McCaskeys resisted for another three weeks until that Detroit fiasco on national TV forced their hands. Eberflus was out. Thomas Brown is now in for the time being. Poles must now figure out how to fix what is broken.
The last sentence says it all. “Poles must now figure out how to fix what is broken.” The main issue IMO as being broken is ownership. George needs to take a step or two back and let his football people do their work with minimal interference from ownership. Either that and admit you don’t know what you’re doing and sell controlling interest to someone that does.
@Sam – you could not be more correct. This team has been a fustercluck on repeat since Lovie got fired. Fans need to expect more and make fewer excuses for failure. Stop trying to find reasons for failure – there are ALWAYS, ALWAYS reasons for failure. If you try hard enough, almost anything can be excused.
Demand improvement. Demand competence. Demand winning.
Dan Wiederer says Ryan Poles has “ceded control” of the operation to Warren, and Warren is the guy who is steering the ship.
And Warren was hired by George. And Ryan Poles was hired by George. Oh, and they refused to state they won’t use an outside consulting person / firm.
Well, try to stay positive anyway…
That’s “Buffalo Bill” from KC PD because “he likes to skin their humps.” Is that too much to remember? Let’s have better attention to detail, unlike Shane, Flus, and Poles.
You’re right Mansa, we should all celebrate a team that hasn’t had a winning record since 2018, and hasn’t won a single playoff game since 2010. Yes, “Can’t do shit for you fuckin fans”… Good call, we should expect less!!! 😂😂 Glad u are happy with your team sir. Some of us actually want to win games.