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After a Tumultuous Start, Matt Eberflus Steadies The Ship in Chicago

Published 12/30/2023, 2:51 PM EST

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USA Today via Reuters

The Bears can be termed as one of the most unstable teams on the field – at least in this season. However, the franchise has a friendly and healthy atmosphere inside the locker room, according to the players. And the credit goes to head coach Matt Elberflus. However, things were a bit different a few months back.

Mystery surrounded the team’s management, staff, and even players over defensive coordinator Alan Williams‘ resignation. While the ownership’s role became clear in the move, the real reason for his departure never came out. So, how did Matt Elberflus turn the page to a brighter chapter off the field?

Matt Elberflus: the father figure the Bears needed

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Questions would always be asked about the HC’s regime if given their match record. While a significant upgrade from Matt Nagy, most of the fans believe that Eberflus hasn’t done enough for the team yet to retain their past glory. But many people might be overlooking the stability that this historic franchise has inside the walls.

The players are fond of his play-calling. “If we had had him calling plays since training camp, I feel like we would have peaked a lot sooner”, according to DT Justin Jones. “You can tell how natural (play calling) is for him and, at the same time, how much he enjoys it”, LB Jack Sanborn doubled down to the Athletics’ Adam Jahns. And the mutual trust extends to fellow names such as Montez Sweat as well.

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The Bears are 6-8 since a significant tumbling in week 2, that shook the franchise. According to Jahns, it’s because of how easily Eberflus gets along with his players and assistants that has helped him create a bond with everyone. This also helps him get the most out of the squad, evident in their recent improvements. But what happened in week 2?

Matt Eberflus’ silence on the bizarre Alan Williams incident

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On September 20, the Bears announced their defensive coordinator Allan Williams had resigned, citing family and health reasons. But as time passed, the situation kept getting weirder. Not only did Eberflus take up the defensive play calling, but he also shared no update on the incident days afterward. Additionally, the HC tried assuring his players that Williams’ departure reason extended beyond his family issues.

via Imago

While in reality, it turned out that the coach was fired over inappropriate conduct. NFL insider Adam Schefter reported that it had nothing to do with criminal activities as suspected before, but something inappropriate had happened which got the Bears HR involved. Speculations reached new heights after rumors started flying about an FBI raid on Williams’ property, which the Bears denied.

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But that’s a past for the current Bears. While they still aren’t favored for a playoff spot, the atmosphere is worlds apart in the house. And that’s equally impressive given the unwanted direction the franchise has taken in the latest years. Kudos to Eberflus!

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Written by:

Sagnik Ghosh

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My story of becoming an NFL writer is as interesting as my story of becoming an MMA practitioner. Coming from such a sport where athletes look to knock the brain cells off each other for a living, I liked the aggression that American Football had to offer. Before I even realized it, I religiously started following American football, picking up the most challenging in-depth write-ups.
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Edited by:

Garima Yadav