The Chicago Bears announced this Friday the dismissal of head coach Matt Eberflus following Thursday's 23-20 loss to the Detroit Lions, their sixth consecutive defeat in the 2024 NFL season.

"We informed Matt of our decision to move in a different direction with the head coach position," stated Ryan Poles, the Bears’ general manager, in an official release.

Disappointing Performance Leads to Change

Eberflus leaves the Bears at the bottom of the NFC North Division with a 4-8 record, far from playoff contention. The tipping point came during the final seconds of Thursday’s game, where poor clock management sealed the team’s fate.

In the final 30 seconds, with the offense on Detroit's 41-yard line, just 10 yards shy of field goal range, Eberflus failed to call a timeout. This allowed the offense, led by quarterback Caleb Williams, to panic. A poorly executed deep pass attempt ran out the clock, leaving the Bears without a chance to tie the game.

Eberflus defended his decisions in the postgame press conference:

"I believe we managed the moment the right way," he stated, despite heavy criticism for the obvious mismanagement.

A Short and Unsuccessful Tenure

At 54 years old, Matt Eberflus joined the Bears in 2022, marking his first stint as an NFL head coach. Over three seasons, he posted a 14-32 record, failing to achieve a winning season or playoff berth.

This firing also marks a historic moment for the Bears, as it’s the first time the franchise has dismissed a head coach midseason.