Without a question, Matt Eberflus has positioned himself to lead the Chicago Bears the following season and possibly beyond. Justin Fields, who is at last beginning to realise his full potential, is largely to blame for that. However, the team’s defence, which Eberflus took over after defensive coordinator Alan Williams’ contentious exit, is mostly to blame.
The Chicago Bears have taken 18 points in their last seven games and have won five of them. The Bears recorded five games with three or more takeaways in the 2023 NFL season. As they approach their final game, they have the most interceptions in the league with 22.
Maybe it took some time for the players to give it their all, or maybe T.J. Edwards and other new defensive signings needed some time to get used to their new roles. However, Eberflus’s ability to mount a strong defence at the right time may ultimately be crucial to his employment security.
Players like Edwards would like for that to occur.
Edwards stated on the Ross Tucker Podcast, “The way he allows us to, again, speak our minds on things we’re seeing on the field or even how things are going week-to-week in terms of the process we have as a team.” “I believe that says a lot. He is one of those individuals who adjusts to the people he has in the building, which is really great because there are a lot of guys who, once again, are kind of stuck in their ways when it comes to what they want to accomplish and how they want to look. You just have to respect that, guys in the locker room. That’s the kind of guy you want to play for.
Edwards’ laudatory remarks regarding Eberflus’ flexibility and willingness to empower players draw attention to a key distinction. The players’ eagerness to play under Eberflus and the late-season surge may be explained by this collaborative approach.
It was a gamble to take over a faltering defence following the Williams scandal, but Eberflus’s approach and guidance are paying off. Fields’s progress and the Bears’ recent defensive surge align, making Eberflus a strong candidate to return—a move that has received great support from some players in the locker room, including Edwards.
