Ben Johnson accomplished feat in 10 games that Matt Eberflus didn't do in 3 years

Matt Eberflus was the head coach of the Bears for almost three seasons before he became the first Bears head coach to be dismissed mid-season in more than a century of existence.

It wasn't unjustified, though at the time, it was a shocking revelation. For more than 100 years, regardless of how bad a head coach did, the Bears never saw fit to pull the emergency brake, often ignoring public turmoil. Just about a year ago, that all changed after Thanksgiving in 2024, when Eberflus was fired following a 4-8 start.

New Coach, New Philosophy

Matt Eberflus and Ben Johnson couldn't be more different coaches. Johnson entered the Bears organization with a lot of pressure on his shoulders. Ryan Poles had been building around Caleb Williams for a full season, and removing the head coach was sure to be a difficult decision. Johnson arrived with a proven track record, but a long to-do list lay ahead. Chicago's fans hold high expectations, and Johnson was hand-selected to bring those expectations to reality.

In 2025, through Week 11 (with a Week 5 bye), the Bears sit at 7-3. First place in the NFC North, and the #3 seed in the NFC. Johnson has indeed marked significant improvement for the Bears, but actual tests of an NFC North head coach are sure to come. Eberflus performed poorly against his own division, only recording two wins (and 13 losses) in his entire tenure. Johnson is currently 1-2 in the division, but there's plenty of opportunity for that to change.

A Tale of Two Tenures

Eberflus' overall record in Chicago was abysmal, recording only 14 wins to his 32 losses. On the road, Eberflus only recorded three wins for the Bears, all of which were devastating, and only a single game was in the division. The other two came at the hands of the Ron Rivera-led Commanders and the crumbling Belichick Patriots.

Since taking the helm in Chicago, Johnson has had six road games and four at Soldier Field. The Bears have posted a 3-1 home record and a 4-2 road record, respectively. Those four wins on the road are more wins away from Soldier Field than Eberflus did in all three years in Chicago combined.

Bears fans are excited to see Johnson continue this winning trend, but it won't be all sunshine and daisies. Johnson has yet to face the Packers, a team against which the Bears have shown little success in recent years.

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Not only does Johnson need to show his mettle against Green Bay twice, but the Bears are slated for a Week 18 matchup against Detroit, a game that could potentially decide the fate of the NFC North and the seeding of the entire NFC.