Matt Eberflus has a certain folksy charm.
He spouts more acronyms than the federal government, from his H.I.T.S. principle (Hustle, Intensity, Takeaways and Smarts) to calling a beloved player an ‘‘M&M’’ guy (Motor and Mean). The first-year Bears head coach tells his players to “put your track shoes on” and reminds them that “there are no houseguests here.”
The Toledo, Ohio, native has a vaguely Midwestern accent, a reminder that, except for six seasons as a Cowboys assistant, he has spent his 52 years living in Ohio, Missouri, Indiana and now Illinois.
Don’t let the cutesy catchphrases fool you, though.