Matt Eberflus was probably working on borrowed time this season before finally being fired on Friday. Many called for his job after the Chicago Bears went 7–10 last season, beginning the campaign with four consecutive losses and a 2–7 start, which followed a 3-14 debut season in 2022.
The Bears were on the way to the No. 1 overall selection in the 2024 NFL Draft as a result of a trade with the Carolina Panthers the previous year and it was questionable whether or not a franchise quarterback prospect — widely projected to be USC star Caleb Williams — should begin his career with a coach likely to be fired.