The Chicago Bears have seen mid-season struggles before, but this season’s rapid decline feels especially jarring. On October 13, the Bears seemed to be thriving with a 4-2 record after defeating the Jacksonville Jaguars in London. But within a month, they hit rock bottom, losing 19-3 to the New England Patriots and dropping to 4-5. Offensive coordinator Shane Waldron was fired, quarterback Caleb Williams seems shaken, and players are openly voicing concerns about the team’s leadership. At the center of it all is head coach Matt Eberflus.
So, what went wrong?
Mike Sando of The Athletic sought insights from high-ranking NFL executives, with one pointing to a specific incident that signaled Eberflus had lost the players’ confidence: his handling of a Hail Mary play against Washington. This exec highlighted that Eberflus’ questionable response to that play has put his leadership on thin ice.
With just 25 seconds left and the Bears leading 15-13, one defensive stop could have sealed a comeback victory. Instead, Eberflus made two critical errors. First, he opted for a soft coverage on the penultimate play, gifting Washington 13 yards and a shot at the end zone. Then, as cornerback Tyrique Stevenson appeared unprepared for the Hail Mary, Eberflus chose not to call a timeout to regroup. But it wasn’t the tactical errors alone that angered players; it was Eberflus’ refusal to admit any fault afterward.
“You’re defending a touchdown there. Them throwing the ball for 13 or 10 yards, whatever that is, doesn’t really matter. It’s always going to come down to that last play,” Eberflus stated, deflecting any blame from his decisions.
Reportedly, several Bears defenders had urged Eberflus to tighten coverage on that play, understanding that a first down would put Washington in range for a Hail Mary. But he disregarded their concerns, and his lack of awareness during that final play revealed a disconnect to many players. This moment is said to have sparked frustration in the locker room, with players beginning to doubt his leadership. Energy and motivation on and off the field dwindled as confidence in Eberflus waned.
Now, Eberflus seems to be in damage-control mode, firing the offensive coordinator in a classic head coach move to deflect responsibility. But insiders feel it’s too late for him to regain trust within the team. Once players feel disconnected from their coach, rebuilding that respect is nearly impossible. Eberflus will likely look back on that Washington game as the moment it all slipped away, with his dismissal likely looming by January.
