Matt Eberflus can thank Caleb Williams for new Coach of the Year odds

Since the Chicago Bears drafted Caleb Williams no. 1 overall in the 2024 NFL Draft, things have shifted quite a bit around the city.

Heck, things have shifted quite a bit across the NFL landscape thanks to the Bears and Williams. There hasn't been this much hype around a rookie quarterback in several years, and Williams is being labeled by some as the best rookie prospect since Andrew Luck.

That's high praise, especially considering we've seen some pretty intense hype around the likes of Joe Burrow, Trevor Lawrence and even Kyler Murray over the last few years.

Head coach Matt Eberflus went from fans wanting him fired halfway through last season to now having a good grasp on the locker room, leading a positive, tight-knit culture and, believe it or not, is currently a top candidate to win the NFL's Coach of the Year this coming season.

Matt Eberflus has the fourth-highest odds of winning NFL Coach of the Year in 2024

If you look around at the majority of over/under projections for the Bears' win total in 2024, currently, they'll sit around 8.5 or 9. That's up quite a bit from 6.5 prior to the 2023 season and also hints that Vegas believes the Bears are going to have a winning season.

Should Chicago end up with a winning season and, say, 10 or 11 wins while surpassing their projection, then Eberflus would have a great shot to win the award.

By the same token, you better believe Williams is going to be the favorite to win NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year. Of course, his odds to win that award are higher than any other fellow rookie in this year's class, and for good reason.

Williams has been surrounded with as good of talent as any rookie quarterback could have possibly asked. it's actually surreal to think about, if you're a Bears fan. Looking at an improved offensive line and additions of Keenan Allen, Rome Odunze, Gerald Everett and D'Andre Swift aded to D.J. More, Cole Kmet, Khalil Herbert and Roschon Johnson?

Whew, boy.

Eberflus can certainly thank Williams for the latest odds he has to win the prestigious award, but general manager Ryan Poles also deserves some props, too. The work this Bears front office has done over the past couple of years is nothing short of impressive.

Matt Eberflus, NFL Coach of the Year ... that has a weird ring to it. But, we'll take it.