Shocking Insider Scoop. If there’s one person at Halas Hall with an uncertain future beyond 2024, it’s Matt Eberflus. The Chicago Bears head coach has made strides in his first two years, notably improving the defense and raising the team’s performance from a 3-14 record in 2022 to 7-10 in 2023. Despite this progress, he faces criticism, particularly over issues in the fourth quarter. The Bears blew double-digit leads in three games last season, highlighting problems with both defensive lapses and offensive execution, with some bad decisions from Eberflus also contributing.
There are concerns that if the Bears don’t make the playoffs in his third season, Eberflus could be at risk of losing his job. With the team having drafted Caleb Williams, there’s worry about repeating past mistakes by bringing in a new coaching staff for another young quarterback, as seen with Mitch Trubisky and Justin Fields. However, according to Bill Zimmerman of Windy City Gridiron, there are whispers that Eberflus’ fourth-quarter decision-making issues may be due to a lack of confidence in Fields as a passer.
If true, it’s hard to blame Matt Eberflus.
Despite the strong support from many Bears fans, Justin Fields’ performance in the fourth quarter last season presents a significant issue. The former first-round pick struggled notably in those crucial final moments, completing just over 51% of his passes for 552 yards, four touchdowns (one rushing), and six interceptions in 2023. He also had two fumbles, further complicating matters. Notably, two-thirds of his interceptions came in the fourth quarter—the most critical part of any game. Fields has thrown 16 career fourth-quarter interceptions, outnumbering those in the other three quarters combined.
It’s clear why Matt Eberflus might have lost trust in him. Fields wasn’t just facing the opposing team; he was also struggling to avoid costly mistakes himself. In hindsight, trading Fields to Pittsburgh might not have been as challenging a decision for Eberflus as it appeared. Caleb Williams, known for his low turnover rate in college with just 14 interceptions on 1,099 passes, might offer a more reliable option. If Williams maintains his turnover-free trend in the NFL, Eberflus could find vindication for his decision.
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