Chicago Bears: Culture, energy in minicamp indicative of Matt Eberflus’ leadership

Players who were around for the Chicago Bears’ 3-14 season last year have every reason to want to turn things around in a hurry. Losing isn’t fun, and ending the season with the league’s worst record is flat-out embarrassing.

“This is the 2023 Chicago Bears. We’ve got a whole new identity,” veteran pass rusher and free agent acquisition DeMarcus Walker told the media Wednesday.

“Honestly, forget that stuff. Last year’s done.”

Walker might be a newcomer, but he has been one of the most intense and vocal players on the field during Bears minicamp, and his teammates are loving it. Safety Eddie Jackson has taken notice of Walker’s leadership right away.

“D-Walk is high energy. He’s going to call you out. Just to have a guy like that — first year, don’t care about the faces, comes in and he loves football,” Jackson said via the Sun Times. “He’s ready to call guys out, hold guys accountable. No one has the ‘poor me’s’ or [is] pointing fingers. We’re all going out there ready to work.”

The early mentality of this Chicago Bears team is far different in 2023, thanks to head coach Matt Eberflus

When the Bears hired Matt Eberflus, they knew they were getting a military man with high integrity, and someone who would push his guys to be the absolute best version of themselves. After one year, the players who were here in 2022 understand that and have seen that he’s going to keep the bar high.

As for some of the newcomers, they know this culture is all about winning, and that things are going to be different from here on out.

“Smart, electric, the energy. It’s just a different feel out there right now,” Jackson went on to say.

“Obviously, the new guys coming in, we’re here for a reason. Offensively, defensively, the older guys that were brought in, they’re here for a reason,” tight end Robert Tonyan said.

The former Packers tight end went on:

“The guys who have been here feel that and want to get on that page and want to win. Winning is awesome. Going to the playoffs is different. Winning the division is a great feeling and I want to bring that feeling here, offensively. And defense is going to take care of themselves. They have good leaders. They went out and got the right people. Offensively, we did, too. We’re trending in the right direction.”

The takeaway, early on from minicamp, has been that the players, both new and existing, are enjoying the energy level and attitude about this team. Eberflus’ character and what he stands for is evident in the types of players he and Ryan Poles have brought in. The Bears are about running, working and winning, now.

There is a difference, and it’s noticeable. No more of the “poor us” mentality. These Chicago Bears are ready to flip the script.