Yardbarker
Yardbarker
x
Bears fire HC Matt Eberflus in unprecedented move
Chicago Bears head coach Matt Eberflus. Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

Matt Eberflus offered the public remarks often made by head coaches on the hot seat after the Bears’ most recent loss. The franchise is nevertheless making an unprecedented in-season change on the sidelines.

Eberflus has been fired, as first reported by Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer. His tenure in Chicago ends after two-plus years at the helm. He compiled a 14-32 record along the way, and the latest contribution to the team’s current six-game losing streak has marked the end of his first NFL head coaching gig. Recently promoted offensive coordinator Thomas Brown will serve as interim head coach, and Tom Pelissero of NFL Network adds.

Eberflus had a solid four-year run as the Colts’ defensive coordinator before being hired by the Bears to replace Matt Nagy. The 54-year-old could not guide the team to a run of success in two seasons with Justin Fields as quarterback, although during the second half of last year, in particular, the defense showed signs of improvement. Several moves this past offseason added new faces on offense, highlighted by the decision to move on from Fields and select Caleb Williams with the first overall pick. The latter’s rookie season has been marred by a string of close losses in recent weeks, several of which have increased the speculation that Eberflus would not last the year.

Chicago had a 4-2 record heading into the bye week, indicating the team would at least be competitive in what has proven to be a strong NFC North. The Bears lost to the Commanders on a Hail Mary (during which cornerback Tyrique Stevenson joined Eberflus in receiving considerable blame) in Week 8, however, and that marked the beginning of the current streak. Low-scoring defeats against the Cardinals and Patriots led to a play-calling change on offense, with Brown taking over from Shane Waldron as OC.

Williams’ play has generally improved since that move was made, but narrow losses to the Packers (on a blocked field goal), Vikings (in overtime) and Lions (during which the Bears mismanaged the situation at the end of the game and did not generate at least an attempt at a game-tying field goal) have now left Eberflus out of opportunities to rebound this season. Chicago sits at 4-8 on the year with the postseason no longer a realistic possibility. He defended how the Thanksgiving game ended Thursday before a brief media availability Friday morning. Shortly after multiple public appearances — during which, in both cases, he expressed a belief he would be retained — Eberflus is now out of the organization.

Three head coaching vacancies are now present in the NFL. The Jets moved on from Robert Saleh, while the Saints dismissed Dennis Allen. Eberflus joins them as a head coach with a defensive background who is looking for a new opportunity. No shortage of candidates (particularly on the offensive side of the ball) will be involved in the 2025 hiring cycle, and likely the earliest Eberflus will join a new staff.

Brown made his NFL coaching debut in 2020 with the Rams. He was a member of Sean McVay‘s staff for three years before taking the Panthers’ OC gig last offseason. The 2023 campaign saw head coach Frank Reich fired amidst changes in play-calling duties with Brown. The latter spent much of the year at the helm, though, and the lack of development shown by quarterback Bryce Young helped lead to his departure. In a very short period, Brown has ascended from passing game coordinator to OC and, at least for a short-term spell, head coach.

From a big-picture perspective, Friday’s move represents the continuation of an unwelcome trend regarding the HC-QB combination in Chicago. Mitch Trubisky spent one season with John Fox before a change on the sidelines was made. Nagy, in turn, spent one year with Fields in place before being dismissed at the end of the 2021 campaign. Eberflus has received less than one full campaign following the Williams selection. The young passer’s development is the organization’s top priority, and finding a long-term coach to pair him with for 2025 and beyond will be critical in that process.

In all, Eberflus becomes the fifth Bears head coach to be fired since George McCaskey took over as chairman in 2011. Over that span, Chicago has posted a winning record only twice while cycling through three general managers and another three offensive coordinators. Finding stability will be key moving forward, but the latest attempt on that front will include a new voice on the sidelines.

This article first appeared on Pro Football Rumors and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads:

Customize Your Newsletter

Yardbarker +

Get the latest news and rumors, customized to your favorite sports and teams. Emailed daily. Always free!

TODAY'S BEST

Commanders' Jayden Daniels Reveals Why He's Bulked Up for 2025 Season
NFL

Commanders' Jayden Daniels Reveals Why He's Bulked Up for 2025 Season

A lot of things went right for Jayden Daniels and the Washington Commanders last season as the franchise made it to the NFC Championship game in Year 1 with Dan Quinn. But one thing that wasn't so good was the number of times Daniels got hit, with 47 sacks making him the sixth-most hit quarterback in football, and for a player of Jayden's slender build, that isn't ideal and is an injury waiting to happen. This offseason, Daniels - who has played at 6-4 and about 2010 - has bulked up a bit, and as training camp began, he revealed why he took that approach. "Obviously be able to take (and) soften the blow as much as possible," Daniels said. "That helps out because obviously those guys might get a good shot on you and they weigh a lot more than I do. So, just be able to try to build more muscle to absorb those hits." In an ideal world, Daniels wouldn't take those hits to begin with, but the fact is, he will get hit, he will get bumped, and having an extra layer of armor will help protect him from injury. Given his play style and the fact that Jayden likes to escape out of the pocket and get downfield, he has a big target on his back when he's a runner. So naturally, the bigger frame he now has will help him bounce off would-be tacklers and make it easier to absorb the punishment that will be coming his way. Year 2 is shaping up as a big one for Daniels and the Commanders, with expectations at an all-time high, so being able to play a full season is crucial to any success the franchise hopes to have. And with Jayden's bulkier frame, it might be a little easier to do that.

LA Lakers receive immediate response from Timberwolves after enquiry over Donte DiVincenzo
NBA

LA Lakers receive immediate response from Timberwolves after enquiry over Donte DiVincenzo

The Los Angeles Lakers aren’t slowing down in their bid to build a contender, making another move to strengthen the squad for a championship run next season. Marcus Smart, the 2022 Defensive Player of the Year, is set to join a roster that now stands at 14 players. Smart links up with DeAndre Ayton, who is expected to take on the main role at centre. Both signings signal a shift towards adding experienced players who can fill key gaps in the lineup. Guard depth was clearly high on the agenda during free agency. Before landing Marcus Smart, the Lakers explored several backcourt options, some of whom ended up signing elsewhere or staying put. The team reportedly showed interest in Bradley Beal before he signed with the Clippers and also considered Malcolm Brogdon as they looked for guards who could impact both ends of the floor. Timberwolves quickly shut down Donte DiVincenzo approach NBA insider Brett Siegel shared that the Lakers reached out to the Minnesota Timberwolves about Donte DiVincenzo, but Minnesota quickly shut down any possibility of a deal. “Los Angeles also reached out to the Minnesota Timberwolves about Donte DiVincenzo’s availability, but the Wolves were not interested at all,” Siegel reported, underlining how firmly Minnesota values the guard. DiVincenzo offers what Los Angeles was looking for during their search. The defensive-minded guard provided secondary scoring while shooting efficiently from beyond the arc. His 2024 numbers included 11.7 points, 3.6 assists, 3.7 rebounds and 1.2 steals per game on 39.7% shooting from deep. Questions remain around Marcus Smart’s shooting but defence remains elite Smart isn’t known for his offensive output, but he did post a 39.2% three-point rate in Washington last season. The Lakers are hoping he can keep that up, especially when Luka Doncic is off the floor. Defence has always been Smart’s strong suit, and that hasn’t changed. His perimeter play is still a real strength, and it’s what the Lakers will lean on most. The Celtics connection gives him a veteran presence this group could use. The Lakers were short on dependable playoff options last year, and Smart should help steady things. Salary cap leaves Lakers short on additional moves The Lakers are just over $1 million from the first-apron tax threshold, limiting their ability to add another high-profile player. Smart’s arrival is likely the last major move unless the team makes additional changes to free up cap space. The 14-man roster, anchored by LeBron James and Luka Doncic, offer plenty of depth and flexibility. Still, whether that translates into a championship run will depend on how well the group stays healthy and builds chemistry. Both Smart and Ayton come with questions attached. The team’s success may ultimately hinge on how those gambles pay off.

NFL

Jaxson Dart Faces Harsh Comparisons Following Troubling Giants Training Camp Debut

Rival fans began drooling after Jaxson Dart’s horrible start at New York Giants training camp. They quickly compared Dart to Brian Daboll and Joe Schoen’s previous draft bust. All 32 teams officially kicked off their offseason training camp on Tuesday, July 23, including the Giants. Fans flocked to the East Rutherford facility to catch a glimpse of the rookies, especially Dart. They all wanted to find out the reason why Daboll and Schoen picked the Ole Miss graduate over Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders. Dart’s very first pass of 11-on-11 drills was an interception by third-year cornerback Nic Jones. Video footage showed Dart making a rookie mistake. Jones caught Dart staring at the receiver, which made it easier for him to figure out the play. The crowd let out a collective sigh as Jones ran to the end zone for a touchdown. Dart’s very first contribution in his first-ever training camp turned out to be a pick-6, which would surely dent his confidence. NFL fans compare Jaxson Dart to a Giants draft bust after his training camp mishap For the longest time, the Giants were the favorites to draft Shedeur. Deion Sanders gave his blessings, and the New York media were eager to cover the young quarterback who had set college football on fire with his passing and flamboyant personality. The status quo changed after the pre-draft visit. All of a sudden, the Giants were no longer interested in Sanders. Their focus had shifted to the dark horse of the draft, Jaxson Dart. This move by the Giants’ top management was a shocker for many as Sanders seemed to be a perfect fit in the Big Apple according to many. Schoen traded up in the first round to select Dart, while Sanders slipped to day three. Initially, it created a lot of ruckus. Anticipation grew after reports from the first and second phases of off-season camp were satisfactory. Unfortunately, that perspective must have taken a massive hit after Dart’s pick-6 on day one of the main training camp. Fans rarely chalk off such incidents as rookie mistakes. A wave of trolls filled X right after the footage went viral. Most compared Dart to the Giants’ previous starting quarterback, Daniel Jones. The former first-rounder agreed to terminate his $40 million per year contract after winning less than 50% of his games for the Giants. Jones threw 47 interceptions during six seasons in New York (averaging 7.2 INTs per year, with 15 during his rookie campaign being the worst of the lot). Brian Daboll passes verdict on Jaxson Dart It was clear from the start that Dart needed to polish his skills further. Fortunately, GM Schoen made the smart move of filling the quarterback room with a veteran presence. GM Schoen signed free agents Jameis Winston to a two-year deal and Russell Wilson for the 2025 season. Both players had significant game time last year. Wilson started for the Pittsburgh Steelers, while Winston deputized for injured Deshaun Watson in Cleveland. According to the Associated Press, Daboll is going to rely on experience over youth. After day one of the practice, he picked Wilson as his starter for the week one fixture of the 2025-26 NFL season. These guys will be out here competing, but Russ is our starter. Brian Daboll said Picking Wilson over the other two appears to be a sound choice. Even though his tenure in Pittsburgh ended with a string of losses, he is their best bet to win games. It’s a great opportunity for Dart to learn from a Super Bowl winner. If everything goes according to plan, then perhaps the Giants can finally turn their fortune around after several seasons of mediocrity.

Boston Red Sox Pull Off Historically Improbable Win Over Philadelphia Phillies
MLB

Boston Red Sox Pull Off Historically Improbable Win Over Philadelphia Phillies

The Boston Red Sox, needing a win Wednesday to avoid a sweep at the hands of the Philadelphia Phillies, didn't get off to the hottest of starts. Lucas Giolito ran into trouble right out of the gates, giving up back-to-back home runs to Kyle Schwarber and Bryce Harper in the first inning. Nick Castellanos and Bryson Stott joined in on the action in the third and fourth, respectively, adding homers of their own to make it a 6-0 ballgame. Rob Refsynder and Jarren Duran finally got Boston on the board with bases-loaded walks in the top of the fifth, just before Romy Gonzalez vaulted his team ahead with a grand slam. Aroldis Chapman couldn't preserve the lead, though, giving up a home run to J.T. Realmuto in the eighth. Both teams scored in the 10th, before rookie catcher Carlos Narváez delivered a two-run homer in the 11th. That gave the Red Sox the insurance they needed to weather Johan Rojas' RBI single in the bottom of the frame and pull out the 9-8 victory. According to OptaSTATS, the Red Sox are the first team in MLB history to strike out at least 15 times, give up at least five home runs and face a deficit of at least five runs and proceed to win the game anyways. After heading into the All-Star break on a 10-game winning streak, Boston has gone 2-4. But by narrowly avoiding sweeps against the Phillies and Chicago Cubs, the Red Sox have managed to hang around in the American League playoff picture with one week left until the trade deadline. The Red Sox will take Thursday off, then open up a series with the Los Angeles Dodgers at Fenway Park on Friday.