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Chicago Bears players eliminated Matt Eberflus long before he was fired

Chicago Bears
Photo credit: Lon Horwedel-Imagn Images

After three seasons in which he posted a 14-32 record, the Chicago Bears finally released Matt Eberflus. The final straw was Thursday’s clock management error that saw the Bears waste 32 seconds of precious time that could have been used in their comeback attempt.

However, sources familiar with the situation indicate that coach Eberflus left the locker room well before the Bears’ sixth straight loss, which reduced them to 4-8.

Related: 2025 NFL Mock Draft: Who should the Bears draft?

Matt Eberflus left the Chicago Bears locker room a long time ago

Chicago Bears
Photo credit: David Reginek-Imagn Images

According to The Athletic’s David Jahns and Dianna Russini, several Chicago Bears players long ago grew tired of Matt Eberflus’ message.

“Jaylon went crazy,” one Bears player said. “He was very emotional and angry, but rightly so. He’s been here longer than most.”

Another player said: “It went even better at (Eberflus).”

“The boys were angry,” said one employee. “It’s been a buildup this season.”

“The locker room was ugly,” another employee said. “There was a lot of screaming.”

The first player said: “We felt as players that we fought our way back into games to lose too many times due to poor time management and poor decision making.”

The Athletic’s report on the Chicago Bears

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Coach Eberflus had two years left on a five-year contract, but the Bears had no problems, so he was fired in a season for the first time in Chicago franchise history. Considering how the team responded, the Bears had no choice but to move on, much like offensive coordinator Matt Waldron had them do earlier in the season.

While the final score came on Thanksgiving, Coach Eberflus dug his grave in Week 8 when the Commanders completed a seemingly simple 13-yard pass to set up Jayden Daniels’ game-winning Hail Mary, a play that could have been set had Chicago had theirs used last time out, it would have been better.

“That didn’t sit well in the locker room,” said one player.

“It didn’t go right,” said the second player. “He lost the defensive guys this week.”

Anonymous Chicago Bears players on Matt Eberflus after the Commanders’ loss

Eberflus led the Bears to a 14-32 record over three seasons, but now Thomas Brown will get his first chance to become an NFL head coach, even if it’s only on an interim basis for now.

Related: 5 Chicago Bears coaching candidates to replace Matt Eberflus

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