On Friday, November 29, just a day after a brutal Thanksgiving loss to the Lions, the Chicago Bears parted ways with Head Coach Matt Eberflus in his third year. This is the fourth time in the past ten years that the Bears has fired their Head Coach, so what makes this one any different?
- Flus Fired Mid-Season: This marks the first time in Bears history a head coach has been fired in the middle of a season
- Optimism for 2024 Season: Bears fans have never been as excited for an upcoming season since arguably 2007, when they made a Super Bowl appearance
- Terrible ways to lose: The Bears practically gave away four easily winnable games to the Commanders (lost to Hail Mary), Packers (lost to blocked field goal), Vikings (lost in OT and had many penalties), and most notably the Lions (lost because of undisciplined time management)
- Unable to Win on the Road: The Bears are 3-20 in their last 23 away games, with a point differential of -209
With Eberflus gone, some Bears fans couldn’t be more ecstatic while there are some that are left with no hope for the future after years of the same repetition. We interviewed multiple “die-hard” Bears fans in the LFHS community to hear their thoughts about the situation and what they expect for the future of the franchise. Here’s what they had to say:
- “Transitioning in the middle of the season is always difficult,” Lake Forest Football Head Coach Chuck Spagnoli said. “Difficulty is difficulty, the problem is history tends to repeat itself.”
- “I’m very disappointed, I thought they had a better chance this year,” Athletic Office Secretary Jean Lecessi said. “I retired all of my Bears gear for another year.”
- “They made a step in the right direction by getting [Matt] Eberflus out, but they really have to nail this head coaching hire or we’re going to be the new Detroit Lions,” LFHS alum Brady Goodman said.
Although there were many disheartened reactions to the current situation, there were also many positive thoughts about the future:
- “Caleb [Williams] was getting us in the game playing excellent fourth quarter football,” junior Owen Yates said.
- “Some of the guys like Mike Vrabel and Ben Johnson are the top candidates [for head coach] and I think they’d do a great job,” senior Marty Hippel said.
- “The [Bears] need to shore up on its offensive line… as well as a proven pass rusher,” season ticket holder Ned Borland said. “If they do that, the Bears can possibly make the postseason in 2025.”
And as most couldn’t be happier that the Bears finally got rid of Eberflus, some don’t believe it was all his fault.
- “I think it’s easier to fire the head coach, it’s a PR move,” Lake Forest Football Assistant Coach Joe Busse said. “He didn’t tell Tyrique Stevenson to go talk crap to the fans, he also didn’t tell the offense not to burn a timeout. After he’s been gone one game… they gave up the most points they have all season.”
