Chicago Bears News: Matt Eberflus ranks last among NFL coaches

The Chicago Bears finished the 2022-2023 NFL season with the worst record in the league and on the surface, it looked like Matt Eberflus had a disappointing first season as a head coach in the league.

Much like there was a need to hold judgment on general manager Ryan Poles last season, there would have been a need to hold judgment on Eberflus as well.

That would be the reason why CBS Sports ranking Eberflus last among their NFL head coach power rankings may be an unfair assessment.

"32. Matt Eberflus (Bears)Season: 2nd with CHI, 2nd as HCCareer record: 3-14 | Playoffs: N/AIt’s not all Eberflus’ fault he debuted with a stripped-down roster, but if you’re gonna be a defensive HC in today’s NFL, you’d prefer not to shepherd one of the league’s worst units on that side of the ball. A big leap from QB Justin Fields would help.-Cody Benjamin via CBS Sports"

It seems hypocritical to point out that it’s not Eberflus’ fault as he was coaching a stripped-down roster only to take a shot that as defensive coordinator by trade, the Bears’ head coach had one of the worst units in the NFL last season.

Chicago Bears head coach Matt Eberflus will now be evaluated for the team’s on-the-field product.

After an off-season where the Bears moved on from veteran defensive tackle Akiem Hicks and traded star pass rusher, Khalil Mack, the team followed up those moves with the trading of Robert Quinn and Roquan Smith in-season.

There is reason to be confident in the culture that Eberflus is building as the team’s head coach.

Despite being a defensive-oriented head coach, Eberflus has developed a rapport with starting quarterback Justin Fields. That is more than could be said for Eberflus’ predecessor, Matt Nagy.

Also, unlike Nagy, Eberflus has taken on a CEO-type approach to his role as the head coach of this Bears’ football. Nagy had a tunnel vision on fixing the team’s offense and that often would lead to an undisciplined product from the Bears under his tenure.

The whole purpose of Eberflus’ first season was to re-establish the team’s culture and the fundamentals of football. That was a success for the team.

But, this is the NFL, and winning is the only thing that matters. If the winning does not start for Eberflus and the Bears this season, there is no question the Bears’ head coach may be then sitting in a hot seat.