NEWSLETTER
A disappointing 2023 season for the Chicago Bears that began with postseason dreams isn’t going as planned. And if things continue to go sideways, first-year Bears President Kevin Warren could decide to undergo an organizational house cleaning.
While answering a question in his mailbag inquiring if the Bears would bring back Head Coach Matt Eberflus, SI.com NFL insider Albert Breer shared what he has heard regarding the team’s possible direction. And it sounds like Eberflus isn’t the only one on the hot seat:
“I think right now it’s trending toward Eberflus not being back. I think that, in part, is due to Kevin Warren’s influence in the organization. Remember, Kevin Warren came in after being the Commissioner of the Big Ten. He did not hire Ryan Poles. He did not hire Matt Eberflus. I think he is motivated to see what he can do with his own guys in there. I’ve also heard Kevin Warren wants to be a little more involved on the football side, so that could influence the decision making there.”
Oh, my! That is a spicy meatball.
We’ve been spending ample time considering a future where Head Coach Matt Eberflus and quarterback Justin Fields will be under a microscope down the stretch. Now we’re throwing GM Ryan Poles into the mix? Oh, dear.
Bears’ Matt Eberflus and Ryan Poles are Officially on Notice
In October, we heard the first whispers of Eberflus’ seat warming up. Last week, Breer shared his belief that it would probably take a late-season heater from the Bears to save Eberflus’ job. We discussed that and the big picture here. In October, there were reports strongly hinting that the team had eyes on drafting a quarterback. But the nuggets about President Kevin Warren bringing in his own guys and dismissing both Eberflus *AND* General Manager Ryan Poles are new. This might be the first inclination that Chicago’s coach and general manager could be out the door at season’s end.
If you’ll recall, a committee spearheaded by retired NFL executive Bill Polian led the charge toward Chicago’s hiring of Poles in January 2022. Polian and that committee also rounded up the early list of coaching candidates. Eberflus was interviewed once before Poles’ hiring and had a second interview shortly before the GM’s hiring became official. Perhaps the Bears will be better off this time with a more stable structure at the top, led by someone who has to deal with the consequences of their actions.
Also notable is Breer mentioning that Warren “is motivated to see” what the Bears could look like with his own hand-picked guys running the show. This is a potentially fascinating development at Halas Hall. This could get juicy. Stay tuned.
