Another week, another loss, and another seven days of figuring out who is to blame for the current state of the Chicago Bears. Over a week ago, the Bears made an unprecedented move (for the organization, at least) and fired head coach Matt Eberflus after two and a half seasons that amounted to a win-loss record of 14-32. What cemented his firing was a clock management gaffe that saw the Bears waste two minutes off the clock and Eberflus failing to use the final timeout in his pocket. It was such a drastic error that no one inside or outside of Halas Hall assumed he would stick around. His reasoning for not using the timeout came off as more of a "dig" against rookie quarterback Caleb Williams than an admission of guilt. His exact words: “Yeah, uh... we liked the play, um, that we had. We were hoping that he was gonna... get the ball snapped, and then we would’ve called timeout.” His final post-game press conference was truly a word salad to end all word salads. Fans, pundits, and current Bears players alike knew how disastrous it was. Wide receiver Keenan Allen was even quoted after the game saying, “I feel like we did enough as players to win the game.” It was as damning an indictment against a coach and his practices as I have ever seen in my five years covering this team. Most of us on the beat knew that he was going to be fired, and while we had no sources ready to divulge his imminent firing, we knew it had to be coming. If you’ve been following and rooting for the Bears as long as I have, then you know that nothing is ever done smoothly at Halas Hall.

The next morning, I woke to an email from the Bears' communications staff with the Zoom link for Monday’s typical press conference. Unlike normal operations, we typically have the Zoom with captions that say, "HC Matt Eberflus Virtual Media Availability." For the first time, the email contained none of that. There was confusion around who was going to speak and why there had been secrecy. As sure as I live and breathe, I believed the Bears had actually done it. I was, instead, greeted with a familiar face in Matt Eberflus. He seemed to have no indication that he was being fired and proceeded to give the media a typical “coach-speak” press conference that teetered on not admitting fault while vaguely taking the blame. It was as “typical” of a Bears press conference as you can get, and it was a damning example of the incompetence that flows throughout this organization. To my surprise, however, the Bears did the unthinkable and fired Eberflus several hours later. They explained that they had been conferring all morning to make the decision and that it was not an easy one. I was too busy with my day job of being a high school teacher to attend the press conference, but Scott was there, and the only word he could use to describe it was: fear. He told me of the stunned look that rested upon General Manager Ryan Poles’s face and how CEO Kevin Warren appeared more like a disappointed father than an executive. It was emblematic of the Bears' experience: make the right move far too late and do it in an exceptionally terrible fashion. But hey, at least it happened, right? During this aftermath, offensive coordinator Thomas Brown (who himself was elevated after the Shane Waldron debacle) was promoted to interim head coach.

“What the hell did I do?” - Roger Smith - Ryan Poles

While the decision was a long time coming and absolutely necessary for the health of this fanbase and team, I can’t help but laugh at how spectacularly silly the implementation was. It’s almost as if this franchise is allergic to modernizing its football operations and behaving like an organization that knows what it’s doing. That notwithstanding, that is in the past, and the future is all I am concerned about. Well, that future is here now. The Chicago Bears played their first game of the Thomas Brown era, and it was fascinatingly terrible. The defense allowed Brock Purdy to post near-perfect passing stats in the first half, and the offense woke up for only two scoring drives before eventually faltering in the second half. It seems as if the solution to this problem is found in, once again, tearing away at the foundations of this current team makeup and starting from a position that is far removed from expectations. So, who will it be? Will it be Ben Johnson, Joe Brady, Brian Flores, Mike Vrabel? All four men are linked as the top coaching candidates for the Bears, and they have a chance to restore hope in a city that has desperately searched for it in their team for quite some time. However, before we can get to that, we must ask ourselves: who will be making these hires? Plenty of fans and pundits assume that Ryan Poles will stay on and draft another coach to lead Caleb Williams to greater heights, but I have a different question: why should he be allowed to do it?

Matt Eberflus was certainly not the coach the team needed, but his failures come off the back of the decisions that Ryan Poles has made. Whether it was the physical debacle from attempting to sign Larry Ogunjobi, the decisions to pursue skill players while not properly addressing the offensive line, or trying to find a competent defensive interior at a discount, Ryan Poles’s decisions have come to haunt the Bears' future, and I’m not sure that allowing him to do it again would be what’s best for this organization. I don’t fault George Halas for the decision to bring in people like Bill Polian to find competent coaching and management; the problem arises when you allow parts that are not working to continue attempting to. Ryan Poles has done a lot of great for this organization, and that cannot be understated. He is responsible for finding the Bears their franchise QB while also securing picks and players that led to DJ Moore and Rome Odunze. He’s done some damn good things. With that being said, his three-year tenure has been marked by inefficiency and poor planning, and it does seem to defy logic that he be allowed to continue down this path. If he is selected to continue, CEO Kevin Warren must set a standard of excellence that trickles down from his position to everyone else in the organization. Whether he will do that is anyone’s guess. The only thing Bears fans can do is hope for the best. After all, that’s what they’ve been doing for decades.

Welcome to hell, Chicago

I’m going to state the obvious: The Chicago Bears’ season is unraveling. What started as a promising 4-2 campaign with hopes for the playoffs, cheers of a competitive culture and a renewal of interest by the fans has spiraled into a skid that highlights the franchise’s longstanding issues. Perhaps none of these issues is more glaring than their inability to shed the “little brother” label when it comes to their storied “rivalry” with the Green Bay Packers. For the past 10 years, the rivalry has had a consistent setting; most years, Bears fans wait with anticipation for that autumn matchup against the Packers with thoughts of revenge on their minds. For Packers fans, it’s a tune-up game where they get to remind their “little brothers” about who is in control of this rivalry. Unfortunately for residents of the Windy City, the Big Brothers have reminded the Bears over and over about their place within this history.

Sunday’s 20-19 loss marked the Bears’ 11th consecutive defeat in the series, the longest streak in the history of a matchup that was once far more balanced. At this point, it’s becoming increasingly difficult to even call this a “rivalry.” After all, what defines a rival? According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, a rival is “one of two or more striving to reach or obtain something that only one can possess.” In the NFL, teams strive for a division title, a conference championship, and ultimately, the Super Bowl. While you can occasionally bypass a divisional crown to achieve the other two, the goal is to secure all three—a mark of a truly competitive franchise. In a true rivalry, both teams act as barriers to each other’s success, fighting to achieve these shared goals. But when it comes to Bears-Packers, what have the Bears accomplished? Since 2014, they’ve claimed just one division title and beaten the Packers only twice. Meanwhile, Green Bay has consistently made the playoffs and relegated the Bears to irrelevance within the NFC North. For all intents and purposes, this isn’t a rivalry anymore. The numbers make that clear. The Packers now lead the all-time series 108-95-6, a commanding margin that reflects not just a recent trend but a seismic shift in dominance over the decades. The brutal truth is that the Bears haven’t beaten Green Bay in their last 10 attempts and rivalries thrive on competition, but this one feels more akin to an annual asswhooping than a rivalry.

This trend and these losses have left some unanswered questions: Where is the leadership? Where is the accountability? As with any struggle in sports, there comes a point when blame needs to be assigned. Rookie quarterback Caleb Williams, viewed as the future of the franchise, has shown flashes of brilliance but his development remains inconsistent—a reflection of the instability surrounding him. One week, he dazzles with performances like his four-touchdown outing against the Jacksonville Jaguars. The next, he struggles with bad habits, such as holding onto the ball too long or failing to take his checkdowns, as seen in the November 10th loss to the New England Patriots. While this inconsistency led to the firing of offensive coordinator Shane Waldron, one wonders about the decisions that went into hiring Waldron in the first place . In Caleb’s first game without Waldron, he displayed impressive poise, clutch decision-making, and determination, sparking hope that he might still develop into the player Chicago desperately needs. But was his inconsistency simply a product of Waldron’s poor coaching, or does it point to deeper rot within the organization? That’s where head coach Matt Eberflus comes into focus. Under Eberflus’ leadership, the Bears’ flaws have only become more pronounced. Caleb’s struggles aren’t the first time this has happened to a young Quarterback. Justin Fields went through a similar process during his team, including struggles from the offensive coordinator role. So, when you add Justin’s & Caleb’s inconsistent development, it all reflects back on Eberflus’ decisions. Whether it’s questionable hirings, puzzling personnel groupings, or baffling in-game calls, the blame logically necessitates his inclusion. His puzzling decisions have been obvious during this current season. In Week 8’s loss against the Washington Commanders, Eberflus inexplicably allowed Washington to gain extra yards late in the game, setting up room for an improbable Hail Mary that stunned them. Then, in Sunday’s loss to Green Bay, he burned precious time by opting for a 40 plus yard field goal instead of trusting his offense to gain more yards for a closer attempt—or better yet, a touchdown.

“Tough Times don’t last, Tough People do” - Matt Eberflus

The Bears’ issues increasingly point to Eberflus’ struggles as a head coach, and these cannot be ignored any longer. For Chicago to move forward, the leadership at the top must be held accountable. The question now should not be whether Eberflus can right the ship, it should be about who can replace him so that the Bears can become a true contender because 3 years of Eberflus’s direction have failed to produce it.

That withstanding, pinning all the blame on Eberflus would miss the bigger picture. This team is a product of General Manager Ryan Poles’ vision. He entered the offseason with significant resources—ample cap space and draft capital—but the roster still feels incomplete. Poles opted to pursue high value skill players while ignoring the glaring holes on the offensive and defensive line. Those costly decisions have been apparent during this recent skid. The patchwork offensive he produced cannot protect Williams consistently, with them allowing a season high NINE sacks against the New England Patriots, which was coming off a 6 sack performance the week before. On the defensive side of the ball, the lack of interior pressure has allowed this talented defense to fold in critical moments. In their matchup against the Packers, their only sack came when Jordan Love scrambled towards the end zone, after he failed to find an open receiver.

This isn’t just about losing to Green Bay. It’s about what those losses represent. Rivalries are supposed to bring out the best in a team, to push them to rise above their limitations. Instead, the Packers games have become a microcosm of everything wrong with the Bears: poor execution, questionable leadership, and a glaring lack of identity. I’ve stated this numerous times during my time covering this team: Chicago deserves better. Bears fans, who hold the Bears to near religious significance in their hearts, deserve a team that matches their passion and resilience. Instead, they’ve been left with a franchise that can’t seem to get out of its own way. The clock is ticking for Poles and Eberflus. If they can’t right the ship soon, this season will end up being another tick in the hamster wheel from hell.

To break free from this frustrating cycle, the Bears need more than just tweaks—they need wholesale change. They need new leadership, a bold vision, and an unflinching commitment to accountability. While the Bears have slid into the role of lovable losers, their divisional rivals are moving in the opposite direction. The Detroit Lions, once the league's perennial punchline, have transformed into a powerhouse, poised to secure another division title and even contend for a Super Bowl. The Packers remain a consistent threat, and the Vikings—despite losing their first-round quarterback to injury—have rallied behind Sam Darnold and clawed their way into playoff contention.

These realities should light a fire under Bears President & CEO Kevin Warren. Brought in to usher the franchise into a new era, Warren must recognize that the transformation begins with assembling a staff that shares his passion, vision, and sense of urgency. Right now, GM Ryan Poles and HC Matt Eberflus have delivered a product that feels more like a relic of the past than a step toward a brighter future. The only question left now is simple: What will Kevin Warren do to turn this franchise around?

If you have spent your life, as I have, watching the Chicago Bears consistently on Sunday’s, you begin to wonder; Is football really as hard as the Bears make it seem? These are professionals who can do a job that most humans would fail at, yet, the Bears have a special habit of adapting slowly to changes around them and stubbornly holding onto anachronistic habits of competing. What complicates matters is the love that the Bears have within the city of Chicago. Whether you’re from within the city limits or the surrounding suburbs, Sunday’s are a holy day and there are few events that can take the average Bears fan away from their TVs on that day. Millions gather together with the hope and belief that this Sunday will be the one. Yet watching the Bears attempt to string together drives feels like watching a toddler try to solve a Rubik’s Cube. Even with these setbacks, Bears fans show up, week after week, pouring unwavering love into a franchise that repeatedly falls short. Sunday’s game against the Washington Commanders was just the latest disappointment in a season—and an era—filled with unmet expectations.

DB Tyrique Stevenson with a costly error in judgment

This game was marked by a familiar scene on the defensive side of the ball. The Commanders were able to move down the field and get within scoring range but were consistently held to Field Goals; the classic Bears “bend but don’t break” defense. Late in the 3rd quarter, rookie Caleb Williams was able to put together two impressive drives that saw the game’s first touchdown as well as the Bears first lead. With less than 30 seconds on remaining, the Bears were in prime position to escape Washington with a win. However, as Jayden Daniels completed his last-second Hail Mary attempt, Chicago fans experienced that all-too-familiar gut punch. Once again, it seemed like the Bears, a team with more than a century of history, fail to understand what it takes to be truly competitive. The game, as well as recent memory showed more of what fans have come to expect: there were flashes of brilliance here and there, sure, but as a cohesive unit, this team remains the “same ol’, same ol’.”

 A Tale of Two Quarterbacks

 Sunday’s matchup against the Commanders brought with it additional pressure as the matchup featured the past two season’s Heisman trophy winners as well as the 1st and 2nd pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. While the anticipation was high with them both coming off impressive weeks of football, Bears QB Caleb Williams struggled under pressure, completing just 10 of 24 passes as the Bears' offensive line failed to provide him with adequate time to pass, allowing him to be pressured on over 50% of his drop backs. In contrast, Commanders’ QB Jayden Daniels found time in the pocket, finishing with over 300 yards and a game sealing touchdown. The difference between these two former Heisman winners, couldn’t have been clearer. Daniels, who has smoothly transitioned to the NFL, has been allowed to adapt to the speed and talent of the professional level with an offensive line that gives him time and a skill group that understands his needs in the pocket. In addition, head coach Dan Quinn has allowed him to make full use of his skillset, winning on both the ground and in the air. Compare this to Caleb who, while equally given a skilled skill group, has been left with a makeshift offensive line and a coaching staff that hasn’t figured out how to gameplan for football in the modern era. A win against Caleb and the Bears has allowed familiar narrative to shape the national media; did the Bears choose the wrong quarterback?

It brings back memories of 2017, when the Bears passed on Deshaun Watson and Patrick Mahomes in favor of Mitchell Trubisky, a decision that has haunted them as Mahomes ascended to greatness. While Caleb Williams appears to be “the real deal”, Sunday’s loss highlights the trend of what it means to play football in Chicago. While other franchises adapt to the league around them and allow their players to develop at a consistent pace, the Bears find themselves having to undergo the same events in a much harder and less effective way.

 The Issue of Adaptation

 Adaptation has never been the Bears' strong suit. The team’s resistance to change is well-documented, from George Halas’ unwillingness to find coaching with more experience to Lovie Smith’s reluctance to abandon the outdated Cover 2 base defense. Chicago is a stubborn city, one that scoffs in the face of the title “second city” and it’s no surprise that her teams exhibit that same stubbornness. What is unacceptable within this, is a lack of discipline. An alarming trend of the this has permeated the tenure of Matt Eberflus. On the play before the Hail Mary, the Bears' defense left the sidelines exposed, allowing an easy 13-yard completion. Then, on the Hail Mary itself, rookie cornerback Tyrique Stevenson was more focused on taunting fans than covering his man. While these are professional athletes who are free to make their own decisions in and out of the game, it starts with the head coach. It is Eberflus and his coaching staff’s job to make sure their players are well prepared for their opponent and consistently disciplined in such a demanding sport. Whether it is momentum killing penalties or confusing playcalls, there has rarely been a time where the Bears seemed prepared for the game before them.

 The Bears’ consistency—or lack thereof—rests on Eberflus’s shoulders and eventually, there will need to be a level of accountability from him that showcases he is the person that will shift the Bears fortunes. Until then, he might only be a transitional figure, reminiscent of former Chicago Cubs manager Ricky Renteria. His teams were scrappy but ultimately incapable of taking the team to the next level and their fortunes did not change until Joe Maddon took over the reins. While Eberflus has built a defense that can keep games close, his handling of the offense has been a stumbling block. It is beginning to reach a point in the season where one wonders if he can competently remain the head coach without costing his time precious time and development.

 Chicago fans are known for their loyalty, but loyalty doesn’t mean complacency. Ryan Poles and Kevin Warren talk of change, but the results mirror the same old story. Until the Bears prove they’re serious about transformation, they’ll remain lovable losers. For now, their story is one of familiarity aka the “same ol’, same ol’.