Not many Chicago Bears fans will have fond memories of the last three years that Matt Eberflus was head coach. He makes his return to Chicago for the first time since being fired in November after the Thanksgiving Day debacle against the Detroit Lions.
Eberflus finished his tenure in Chicago with a 14-32 overall record. He never had a winning record with the team and saw his Bears collaspe after a 4-2 start to the 2024 regular season. Yeah, safe to say it didn't go well for him.
He's back on Sunday as the defensive coordinator of the Dallas Cowboys. For Eberflus, the memories are tough from his time in Chicago, but he grew from that experience.
"There’s always hard moments in coaching," Eberflus said via Nick Harris. "You’re always disappointed when you lose because you put so much into it. The players put so much into it. You’re most disappointed for the players. Once that settles in then you work to the next day, the sun comes up and you move forward. You learn and you grow and you keep going. That’s what true grit is. That’s what we’re all about."
Eberflus use one word multiple times that Bears fans would agree on
In that quote, the most notable part of it was that there was a word he used twice: disappointed. Eberflus was disappointed that it didn't work out in Chicago.
Bears fans feel the same way.
Chicago thought they were getting a defensive-minded coach who would bring some toughness to the franchise. Almost like recreating what they had in the Lovie Smith era or the Mike Ditka era. That didn't happen.
Eberflus never had an offense that was ranked higher than 28th in total offense. Even with his defense, outside of a 12th ranking in 2023, his other two years were in the bottom six in the league in total defense.
Last year was the biggest disappointment, as the team went from a 4-2 start to a 5-12 overall record to end the season. The Bears only got one win in the NFC North, and that was against the Green Bay Packers, without Eberflus coaching, and without the Packers' starters playing half the game.
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For the first time in three years, Bears fans have a feeling they can agree on with Eberflus: disappointment.