Literally every Bears fan I know hated hated hated the decision to bring him back.
It is TIME! 2025 NFL Coaching Carousel
- Thread starter luckiestman
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The most damning part of this is Santos prefers kicking from the right hash. And Eberfraud just wasted a play and ran it to the left. Because he didn't know what side Santos, his kicker who was about to try to kick a game winning field goal, preferred.
Unacceptable. Details matter.
I think the whole “lost the locker room” trope is wrong 99% of the time… but in this case it sure seems true. I agree with you, firing him now isn’t ideal, but I don’t know if they had a choice. They’re asking these players to put their bodies on the line for another 5 weeks. Hard to do that when everyone concedes that the HC isn’t up to the task.
So if even 2 of those 4 losses by <3 points goes the other way the Bears would be in the hunt. Is that a true reflection of their talent? Season was Eberflushed?
Him saying that if had it to do over he’d make the same bad decision again couldn’t have helped.
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Coaching also pretty critical in those close games so I'd say this is actually an indictment of Eberflus rather than some kind of bad luck, which I'm sure his agent will spin it as.
The knives are out in a (paywalled) story in The Athletic:
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5957910/2024/11/30/matt-eberflus-fired-bears-players-locker-room/
I'm fully on board with firing Eberflus. That said it is a bit ironic that I presume the guy who is replacing him -- who is getting a ton of flowers right now -- must have had something to do with botching that last sequence. I'm not sure who was doing what, but it seems to me the basic idea was correct: get to the line and throw a 3rd down pass and save the TO so that you have the whole field to throw to and call a TO if a completion in the middle of the field. It went south when Williams decided to change plays at the LOS -- in there somewhere presumably was some bad/slow communication with Brown. Can talk until 15 seconds left on the clock so would have to re-watch exactly when the headset would have been turned off, but pretty far into the sequence, anyway. Isn't it the OC who is in his ear or in charge of whomever is in his ear?
As well, Wiliams throwing deep because he thought they had no TOs left...I mean, that's on Williams as was the decision to spend an eternity at the line in the first place (he's getting a free pass on that due to Eberflus) -- but I'd think the OC would be the first point of contact on all those issues, too.
Oh well. Again, ultimately it falls on Eberflus and there are enough fails on his record -- and a lost locker room -- that by no means is that meant as an excuse. But it is ironic.
As well, Wiliams throwing deep because he thought they had no TOs left...I mean, that's on Williams as was the decision to spend an eternity at the line in the first place (he's getting a free pass on that due to Eberflus) -- but I'd think the OC would be the first point of contact on all those issues, too.
Oh well. Again, ultimately it falls on Eberflus and there are enough fails on his record -- and a lost locker room -- that by no means is that meant as an excuse. But it is ironic.
The Bears were stupid for bringing back Eberflus knowing he’d be on the hot seat in Williams’ rookie year. They should have brought in an offensive minded new guy to pair with Williams.
Not many OCs getting as much buzz as DCs this year. Seems like Ben J is the top offensive guy but in Jets land, besides Liam Coen getting mentioned, it’s Vrabel, Glenn, Flores, maybe Minter, long shot Pete.
Setting aside his sketchy email comms, I think Gruden might be an interesting possibility here. Am I insane?
my 02
jobs likely open
NYJ my guess aaron glenn det dc
NO gruden or liam coen
VEGAS vrabel
CHI kingbury or p careoll
JAX i could see mcdanels here if not then likey l coen or j minter lac dc
50-50
CLE
INDY
NYG more likely 26
NE also more likely 26
DAL mike M likely back but who knows with jerry
1 bad season next year
MIA
BUFF
CINY
TENN
PHILLY
CAR
SF if they missed the playoffs in 25
if vegas does not hire vrabel i couild vrabel going back to cle in 25 to where he take the cle job or waits on ne
jobs likely open
NYJ my guess aaron glenn det dc
NO gruden or liam coen
VEGAS vrabel
CHI kingbury or p careoll
JAX i could see mcdanels here if not then likey l coen or j minter lac dc
50-50
CLE
INDY
NYG more likely 26
NE also more likely 26
DAL mike M likely back but who knows with jerry
1 bad season next year
MIA
BUFF
CINY
TENN
PHILLY
CAR
SF if they missed the playoffs in 25
if vegas does not hire vrabel i couild vrabel going back to cle in 25 to where he take the cle job or waits on ne
Diana Russini, in a wide-ranging coaching piece paywalled on The Athletic, runs down when playoff team candidates (and others) can interview.
Spoilered for length
Spoilered for length
A reminder of the league’s Rooney Rule: Teams must conduct an in-person interview with at least two external, diverse — minority and/or female — candidates for any GM or head coaching vacancy.
Mike Vrabel: He can interview in-person now — and he can be hired once teams complete Rooney Rule requirements. He interviewed with the Jets at their Florham Park facility on Friday.
Ben Johnson and Aaron Glenn, Lions offensive coordinator and defensive coordinator: If the Lions get the NFC’s No. 1 seed, Johnson and Glenn can interview virtually anytime between Wednesday and Jan. 13. If Lions lose on Sunday night and are playing on Wild-Card weekend, they can interview virtually three days after Detroit’s Wild-Card game, up until Jan. 19. In-person interviews can’t start until the Lions’ season ends, and no earlier than Jan. 20.
Brian Flores, Vikings DC: If the Vikings get the NFC’s top seed, Flores can interview virtually anytime between Wednesday and Jan. 13. If Minnesota loses on Sunday night and is playing on Wild-Card weekend, Flores can interview virtually three days after the Vikings’ Wild-Card game, up until Jan. 19. In-person interviews can’t start until the Vikings’ season ends, and no earlier than Jan. 20.
Liam Coen, Buccaneers OC: If the Bucs make the playoffs, Coen can interview virtually starting three days after their Wild-Card game and until Jan. 19. In-person interviews can’t start until Bucs season ends, and after Jan. 19. If Tampa Bay misses the playoffs, Coen can start interviewing virtually on Wednesday, but can’t interview in-person until Jan. 20.
Kliff Kingsbury, Commanders OC: He can interview virtually three days after Washington’s Wild-Card game and until Jan. 19. In-person interviews can’t start until Commanders’ season ends, and no earlier than Jan. 20.
Matt Nagy, Chiefs OC: He can interview virtually from Wednesday until Jan. 13. In-person interviews can’t start until Chiefs’ season ends, and after Jan. 19.
Anthony Weaver, Dolphins DC: If the Dolphins miss the playoffs, Weaver can interview virtually from starting Wednesday, and in-person starting on Jan. 20. If the Dolphins make the playoffs, Weaver can interview virtually starting three days after their Wild-Card game and until Jan. 19.
Joe Brady, Bills OC: He can interview virtually starting three days after Buffalo’s Wild-Card game and until Jan. 19. He can start in-person interviews after the Bills’ season is over, but no earlier than Jan. 20.
Jon Gruden and Ron Rivera: Like Vrabel, Gruden and Rivera can interview in-person immediately and get hired once a team completes the Rooney Rule requirements.
Deion Sanders, Colorado HC: Sanders, like any college coach, can interview in-person for NFL jobs immediately and get hired once a team completes its Rooney Rule requirements.
Brian Daboll, Antonio Pierce, or any other potential fired HCs: They can interview in-person for jobs promptly after being fired, and they can be hired once a team completes its Rooney Rule requirements.
Mike Vrabel: He can interview in-person now — and he can be hired once teams complete Rooney Rule requirements. He interviewed with the Jets at their Florham Park facility on Friday.
Ben Johnson and Aaron Glenn, Lions offensive coordinator and defensive coordinator: If the Lions get the NFC’s No. 1 seed, Johnson and Glenn can interview virtually anytime between Wednesday and Jan. 13. If Lions lose on Sunday night and are playing on Wild-Card weekend, they can interview virtually three days after Detroit’s Wild-Card game, up until Jan. 19. In-person interviews can’t start until the Lions’ season ends, and no earlier than Jan. 20.
Brian Flores, Vikings DC: If the Vikings get the NFC’s top seed, Flores can interview virtually anytime between Wednesday and Jan. 13. If Minnesota loses on Sunday night and is playing on Wild-Card weekend, Flores can interview virtually three days after the Vikings’ Wild-Card game, up until Jan. 19. In-person interviews can’t start until the Vikings’ season ends, and no earlier than Jan. 20.
Liam Coen, Buccaneers OC: If the Bucs make the playoffs, Coen can interview virtually starting three days after their Wild-Card game and until Jan. 19. In-person interviews can’t start until Bucs season ends, and after Jan. 19. If Tampa Bay misses the playoffs, Coen can start interviewing virtually on Wednesday, but can’t interview in-person until Jan. 20.
Kliff Kingsbury, Commanders OC: He can interview virtually three days after Washington’s Wild-Card game and until Jan. 19. In-person interviews can’t start until Commanders’ season ends, and no earlier than Jan. 20.
Matt Nagy, Chiefs OC: He can interview virtually from Wednesday until Jan. 13. In-person interviews can’t start until Chiefs’ season ends, and after Jan. 19.
Anthony Weaver, Dolphins DC: If the Dolphins miss the playoffs, Weaver can interview virtually from starting Wednesday, and in-person starting on Jan. 20. If the Dolphins make the playoffs, Weaver can interview virtually starting three days after their Wild-Card game and until Jan. 19.
Joe Brady, Bills OC: He can interview virtually starting three days after Buffalo’s Wild-Card game and until Jan. 19. He can start in-person interviews after the Bills’ season is over, but no earlier than Jan. 20.
Jon Gruden and Ron Rivera: Like Vrabel, Gruden and Rivera can interview in-person immediately and get hired once a team completes the Rooney Rule requirements.
Deion Sanders, Colorado HC: Sanders, like any college coach, can interview in-person for NFL jobs immediately and get hired once a team completes its Rooney Rule requirements.
Brian Daboll, Antonio Pierce, or any other potential fired HCs: They can interview in-person for jobs promptly after being fired, and they can be hired once a team completes its Rooney Rule requirements.
They really don't want to fire Stefanski because firing a 2 time COTY looks bad but.... shuffling OCs every year at ownership request makes them look really bad too.
I’m surprised he’s not going too. This is a three year run of
fires DC and ST coordinator
fires OC and RB and TE coaches
fires another OC and the OL coach
I’d guess usually at that point, even if you think he’s good, that the head coach would be getting the blame.
Predictions
Pats/Vrabel
Bears/Ben Johnson
Jags/ Liam Coen
Saints/McCarthy
Jesters/Glenn (I’d prefer Minter or Flores but wish success to whomever is dumb enough to take this job)
Cowboys/?
Pats/Vrabel
Bears/Ben Johnson
Jags/ Liam Coen
Saints/McCarthy
Jesters/Glenn (I’d prefer Minter or Flores but wish success to whomever is dumb enough to take this job)
Cowboys/?
checked with local CLE guys, sounds like owners are handing him back control, they fired AVP on him and pushed for Dorsey and insisted he play Watson despite an 11 win season and the whole thing imploded, sounds like he's getting one last chance with his own guys... which might honestly end up being him bringing AVP back if he gets fired by NE.
Difficult question: is it time to ask an obvious question about the Rooney Rule? While it was originally designed with good intentions, doesn’t it seem as if it’s turned into a mechanism for NFL teams to exploit individuals based on their race in order to satisfy a mandated checkbox?
Imagine being a black “candidate” for an NFL head coaching job. You board a plane and fly somewhere across the country for an interview where it’s clear a predetermined candidate (who’s white) will be hired. How would that make you feel? Wouldn’t it seem as though an intrinsic part of who you are is being reduced to a PR tool? A way for a billion-dollar league to shield itself from criticism and generate positive press?
IMO, especially in recent years, the rule often leans into what it seeks to eliminate: using race as a token rather than a genuine consideration. Is it time for it to be reevaluated?
Imagine being a black “candidate” for an NFL head coaching job. You board a plane and fly somewhere across the country for an interview where it’s clear a predetermined candidate (who’s white) will be hired. How would that make you feel? Wouldn’t it seem as though an intrinsic part of who you are is being reduced to a PR tool? A way for a billion-dollar league to shield itself from criticism and generate positive press?
IMO, especially in recent years, the rule often leans into what it seeks to eliminate: using race as a token rather than a genuine consideration. Is it time for it to be reevaluated?
This has always been the critique, the counter is even the sham interviews give the candidates practice for future not fake interviews.
Only thing that would surprise me is someone like Shanny. Taylor, Stefanski, Steichen, Cardinals guy would surprise me but not shock.
I know McVay is considered Baby Jesus but were I a Rams fan I’d be seriously questioning his decision to lay down today. The difference between playing Washington as the 3 seed vs playing Det/Minn loser as the 4 is enough to play at least some of your starters.
I don’t follow them religiously, but I think Stafford, Kupp and Nucua have been battling injuries so much this year, especially the last few months where they’ve been in a lot of tough games in a tough division, that I can see privileging rest over matchup.
mike brown is too cheap he makes kraft look like robin leach
pats vabel
jets a glenn
raiders i lean toward them keeping pierce
bears kingbury
saints coen
jags matt nagy or ben johnson
The Rams may feel very confident that (1) Detroit will lose tonight and (2) they can beat them. They may also be so banged up that they felt that taking the week off was a necessity.
Pats/Coen
Bears/Johnson
Jags/McCarthy
LV/Vrabel
NYJ/Glenn
Boys/Minter
Likely 100% wrong! But going against some of the consensus...
Feel like Nagy is getting underrated. He was not a bad HC in his first run.
The Bears have 3 .500 or better seasons in the last 11 years.... all of them came in the 4 seasons Nagy was HC.
The Bears have 3 .500 or better seasons in the last 11 years.... all of them came in the 4 seasons Nagy was HC.
yep, he took the fall for Trubisky busting, which.... I don't think was really his fault.
He'd probably still be there if they took the guy he's currently coaching now.
It would be absolutely shocking if it’s not Vrabel to NE. I’d prefer Flo, but would be be very happy with Vrabel. Having spent the last 20+ years in Nashville I followed Vrabel a bit closer than most, and while he can be frustrating he’s the real deal.
That is an insane stat.
I'm so curious to see Ben Johnson's decision. Neither the Bears nor Jags orgs scream long-term stability. That said, the offensive weapons available on both teams are in theory pretty significant if you can harness them.
Jay Glazer apparently reported today that multiple teams are preparing to make trade offers to the Vikings for KOC. I'm befuddled as to why either KOC or the Vikings would want to break up.
Sell high? Talk themselves into McCown as a replacement? I wouldn't do it, but his value is very high at the moment.
I think Jags is Johnson's move, and he makes them hire Agnew or one of the other DET front office folks. Kahn is known to generally keep his nose out of it (though his son dabbles a bit) and he's loyal, he kept Balke forever.
Yeah saw the KOC thing, he implied it was that KOC wanted to be paid like a top coach and the Vikings might not do it...... that seems like an INSANE thing for an owner to do, cheap out at HC when even the highest paid is what... 18M? 20M?