The 2024 season for the Chicago Bears has been nothing short of a catastrophe, a year that might go down as one of the most disastrous in franchise history. With the firing of head coach Matt Eberflus after yet another crushing loss, it feels like the Bears are now entrenched in a cycle of dysfunction that just won’t stop. The Bears have become the embodiment of “disaster in the making,” with what seems like an endless string of mistakes, losses, and mismanagement that has left the fanbase both heartbroken and hopeless.
A Season of Historic Failures
The Bears started the season with a modicum of hope. They had a young, promising quarterback in Caleb Williams and a coaching staff that was supposed to take them to new heights. Instead, they’ve delivered one of the worst stretches of football the NFL has ever seen. The team’s recent loss to the Minnesota Vikings was the tipping point, a game that highlighted just how deeply this team is mired in dysfunction. It wasn’t just the loss, but the way they lost—yet another brutal mistake in the final moments that led to a soul-crushing overtime defeat.
Eberflus’ Incompetence: The Final Straw
Eberflus’ firing came after an appalling mismanagement of the Thanksgiving Day game, where the Bears had one last chance to win but squandered it with a series of botched decisions. With 32 seconds left, the Bears were in range for a game-winning field goal, but Matt Eberflus—with a timeout still in his pocket—allowed the clock to run out, costing them any chance of attempting a kick to win the game. Caleb Williams, who had played a heroic second half, was left helpless as the clock ran down and the Bears’ season slipped further into disaster.
It wasn’t just the Thanksgiving game that doomed Eberflus. Throughout his tenure, he’d shown a disturbing inability to win close games, with an abysmal 5-19 record in games decided by one score. In the NFL, that kind of record is a red flag that cannot be ignored. As a coach, if you can’t execute in the most critical moments, you simply don’t belong. And the Bears were forced to make the inevitable decision—they fired Eberflus, making him the first head coach in the history of the franchise to be dismissed mid-season.
A Series of Heartbreaking Losses
This season’s losses were more than just games on a schedule—they were gut-punches. Let’s rewind and look at a few key moments that showcase just how bad things have gotten:
Week 8 vs. Jaden Daniels and the Hail Mary: The Bears were ahead late, only to have the game ripped from their hands by a walk-off Hail Mary. It wasn’t just a defeat; it was a reminder that Chicago’s defense was incapable of executing when it mattered most.
Week 11 vs. Green Bay: After a game-winning drive by Caleb Williams, the Bears were poised for a field goal to win, only to have it blocked. Special teams let them down at the worst possible moment, continuing a theme of failure across all facets of the team.
Week 12 vs. Minnesota: This loss encapsulated the Bears’ season. After a furious comeback, including a touchdown, two-point conversion, and an onside kick recovery, the Bears had the game tied and even won the coin toss in overtime. Yet, they still lost, failing to capitalize on a golden opportunity.
The Matt Eberflus Legacy
It’s hard to understate just how damaging Matt Eberflus’ tenure has been. He leaves behind a team that is demoralized, questioning its leadership and direction. His decision-making in high-pressure moments has been disastrous, and the Bears are paying the price. There’s a reason his departure was inevitable—Chicago needs a coach who can guide the team through those critical moments, not one who fumbles away every opportunity.
Even worse, Eberflus failed to instill the necessary accountability in his players. In his postgame interviews, he never took full responsibility for his mistakes. His insistence that everything was handled “the right way” after the Thanksgiving debacle was just another sign of how detached he was from the reality of the situation.
What’s Next for the Bears?
As the Bears move forward, the question is simple: Can they fix this? The team needs to find a head coach who can restore discipline, build a winning culture, and teach Caleb Williams how to thrive in crunch-time situations. The pressure is on the front office, led by Ryan Poles, to get this next hire right. If they fail, the Bears could spiral into irrelevance, and with it, they risk losing their fanbase for good.
One candidate to consider is Ben Johnson, the offensive coordinator from the Detroit Lions. Johnson has worked wonders with quarterbacks and is known for his innovative approach. If Chicago is serious about turning the ship around, Johnson could be the answer they’ve been searching for.
But regardless of who they hire, the Bears can’t afford any more mistakes. The next head coach needs to be someone who can stop the bleeding and make Chicago competitive again. If they get this wrong, it could signal the end of an era for one of the NFL’s most storied franchises.
Conclusion: Will the Bears Ever Recover?
The Chicago Bears’ 2024 season has been a complete disaster, marked by crushing losses, bad decisions, and a coaching staff that failed to execute when it mattered. But all is not lost—if the Bears can find the right leadership, there is still time to rebuild and regain respectability. The stakes could not be higher, and the next few weeks will determine whether this team is destined for another decade of mediocrity or if they can finally turn things around.
But for now, the Bears remain the “NEW WORST” in the NFL, a symbol of dysfunction and missed opportunity. Will the Bears ever recover, or is this truly the worst of everything? Time will tell.
