But when I was a little kid we watched Brian’s Song in middle school and that was the first movie that ever made me cry. When I told my grandpa about how the movie made me feel he let me know that my great-grandpa grew up in Chicago, and as a dumb kid that was all the information I needed. From that day on I was always a Chicago Bears fan.
Coaches like Matt Eberflus make me realize what a terrible decision that was.
The winds of change have blown through Halas Hall, and Chicago Bears fans feel that all-too-familiar mix of frustration and cautious optimism. The team has parted ways with head coach Matt Eberflus, ending a tenure defined more by missed opportunities and several instances of coaching malpractice. Last Thursday’s clock management debacle on Thanksgiving was the last straw for Eberflus. Bears’ ownership and general manager Ryan Poles fired him Friday morning, but not before the total gaff of letting him talk to the media hours before they fired him.
The End of the Eberflus Era
Eberflus came to Chicago with a reputation as a defensive mastermind, but his two seasons at the helm were anything but masterful. Despite occasional flashes of promise—like the development of key franchise staples like cornerback Jaylon Johnson—his tenure was marred by an inability to adapt, stagnant offensive schemes, and a severe lack of cohesion that anyone with eyes could spot from a mile away.
With a 14-32 record, the writing was on the wall. The most comical stat from the Eberflus era is that the guy never won an away game on a Sunday… not one.
The NFL is a results-driven league, and the Bears now have a generational talent at quarterback in Caleb Williams. The number one overall pick has looked shell-shocked at times behind bad offensive schemes and a worse offensive line. Despite the storm around him, Caleb Williams is performing and passes the eye test of a young franchise quarterback.
The McCaskey family and GM Ryan Poles made this move to get a jumpstart on surrounding their franchise quarterback with a staff that will unlock all of his potential.
Who’s Next? Names to Watch
As the Bears pivot toward finding their next leader, the stakes couldn’t be higher. This isn’t just about X’s and O’s—it’s about finding a coach who can galvanize the locker room, connect with a fanbase hungry for success, and maximize the potential of the team’s cornerstone players. The phrase “leader of men” has been thrown around quite a bit about the Bears’ next head coach.
Several high-profile names are already circulating in league circles. Offensive minds like Ben Johnson (Detroit Lions offensive coordinator) seem like natural fits for a team desperate to modernize its offense around Caleb Williams. Meanwhile, experienced head coaches like Mike Vrabel ( former Tennessee Titans head coach) could offer a mix of leadership and moxy that would stabilize a turbulent football culture. Vrabel is a proven winner, he won Super Bowls with the Patriots as a player and took the Titans to the AFC championship game with a lackluster roster.
Then there’s the possibility of a wildcard—a rising star from the college ranks’ name has been thrown around. Marcus Freeman is the head coach for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. He’s well respected in football circles and is known for his leadership abilities. I would expect him to get an interview during the offseason.
One Fan’s Speculation
Out of these candidates, I would lean toward Vrabel because of his proven track record in the league. If Williams keeps dealing at a high level with Arthur Brown at the helm, pairing Brown with Vrabs seems like a solid bet. The fan base is warming up to interim head coach Arthur Brown and if he wins a couple of these divisional games coming up, especially if he beats Green Bay, it’s hard to see how he’s not involved in some way next season. An offensive coordinator/assistant head coaching role could be the move to give Caleb a healthy bridge to the next coaching regime.
A Crossroads Moment
For Bears fans, this is familiar territory. The franchise has spent the better part of the past two decades searching for stability and success, it’s been a long time since we saw our team in the big game. Devin Hester took the opening kickoff in a rainy Super Bowl showdown in Florida. The Bears ended up losing to Payton Manning’s Colts in that game, but goddamn was it a fun ride. And the franchise was actually relevant and producing a competent football product.
Caleb Williams seems like he has the juice to get us back to relevance. Division titles, playoff runs, and Super Bowl appearances. We cannot fuck this up. And by we, I mean Poles and the McCaskey family. They cannot fuck this up.
The search for a new head coach is more than just a hire—it’s a statement about what this team wants to be. Let’s hope the next move is one for the history books—not the blooper reel.
