Matt Eberflus Reminds Chicago Bears Fans Of His Coaching Incompetence During NFL Opener

The 2025 NFL season kicked off with a primetime showdown between the Philadelphia Eagles and the Dallas Cowboys, but for many Chicago Bears fans, the game felt like a painful trip down memory lane. As the Cowboys’ defense faltered in key moments, their defensive coordinator, former Bears head coach Matt Eberflus, found himself in the crosshairs of a frustrated fanbase that knows his system all too well.

The Cowboys’ defense, expected to be a formidable unit even after trading away superstar Micah Parsons, struggled to contain the Eagles’ offense. Philadelphia moved the ball with ease, scoring on all three of their first-half possessions. Yet, it was a single play call with the game on the line that sent Bears fans to social media, reigniting debates about coaching philosophy and situational awareness. The performance gave Chicagoans an unwelcome flashback, raising fresh concerns about Eberflus’s strategic approach and validating the Bears’ decision to move on.

Matt Eberflus’ Defensive Decisions Under Fire

The moment that drew the most ire came late in the fourth quarter. The Dallas Cowboys’ offense had managed to keep the game within a single score, and the defense needed one crucial stop on third-and-short to have a chance at a game-winning drive. With the game hanging in the balance, the Eagles faced a critical down against a defense that had been on its heels all night.

Instead of deploying an aggressive scheme to challenge the line of scrimmage, Eberflus called for a soft zone coverage with a standard four-man rush. This passive approach left massive running lanes open, and Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts, one of the most effective rushing quarterbacks in the league, easily scrambled for the first down, icing the game.

The play call was baffling to analysts and fans alike. It demonstrated a lack of situational awareness, failing to account for Hurts’ well-known mobility in a do-or-die moment. The decision to play a soft, reactionary defense instead of an aggressive, attacking one was a perfect encapsulation of the conservative style that often frustrated Bears fans during Eberflus’s tenure in Chicago. For a national audience, it was a questionable call; for Bears fans, it was a familiar nightmare.

Chicago Bears Fans Relive Painful Flashbacks

The reaction from the Bears faithful was swift and merciless. Social media platforms were flooded with comments from fans pointing out the schematic similarities to Chicago’s most frustrating losses under Eberflus. The Cowboys’ final defensive play was eerily reminiscent of the ultra-conservative “prevent” defense that cost the Bears games in critical situations.

One of the most cited examples was the infamous Week 8 game against the Washington Commanders in 2024. In that contest, with Washington needing a miracle, Eberflus’s defense conceded a soft, 13-yard gain on the play right before a game-winning Hail Mary. That passive play-calling put the Commanders in a position to win, a mistake that has since lived in infamy among the fanbase.

Watching the Dallas Cowboys make a similar strategic error on a national stage was a form of vindication for many Chicago Bears supporters. It confirmed their long-held belief that Eberflus’s defensive system, while disciplined, often lacks the adaptability and aggression required to win in the modern NFL. The H.I.T.S. (Hustle, Intensity, Takeaways, Smarts) principle, which Eberflus championed in Chicago, seemed to crumble in the moments when situational smarts were most needed.

The collective groan from Chicago was palpable. Fans who had spent two seasons watching their team surrender late leads due to conservative play-calling now saw the same patterns emerging in Dallas. It was a stark reminder of the coaching incompetence they felt had held the team back.

What This Means for Chicago’s Future

While the game was a painful reminder of the past, it also served as a hopeful sign for the future in Chicago. The Bears’ new coaching staff, led by head coach Ben Johnson and defensive coordinator Dennis Allen, has already shown a willingness to be more aggressive. Throughout the 2025 preseason, Allen demonstrated a penchant for timely blitzes and creative pressure packages, a stark contrast to Eberflus’s more reactive scheme.

The public criticism of Eberflus’s strategy reinforces the narrative that the Bears made the right move by parting ways with him. It suggests that the team’s struggles were not solely due to a lack of talent but were exacerbated by a coaching philosophy that was often too rigid and predictable. As the Bears look to build a contender around quarterback Caleb Williams, having a modern, aggressive defensive mindset is crucial.

For Matt Eberflus, the criticism from his former team’s fanbase is a concerning sign. His reputation as a defensive architect is now under intense scrutiny. If his conservative tendencies continue to cost the Cowboys games in high-leverage situations, the pressure will only mount. The NFL is a league that rewards calculated aggression, and coordinators who consistently fail to adapt are often left behind.

Ultimately, the Eagles-Cowboys opener served as a side-by-side comparison for Bears fans. On one screen, they saw their former coach repeating familiar mistakes. On the other, they see the promise of a new era in Chicago, one where they hope competent and aggressive coaching will finally lead them back to relevance. The flashbacks were unpleasant, but they made the present—and the future—look much brighter.