Chicago Bears head coach Matt Eberflus was fired Friday morning following a devastating Thanksgiving Day loss to the Detroit Lions, marking the first mid-season firing of a head coach in the history of the team.
Many fans told NBC Chicago that it was one of the best decisions the Bears had made all season.
Eberflus’ dismissal follows six consecutive defeats and questionable calls from the coaching staff.
Bears President and CEO Kevin Warren said in a statement Friday: “Our fans have supported us and persevered through every challenge, and they deserve better results. Our organizational and operational structure is strong, focused, aligned and energized for the future.
For many fans, it’s a sigh of relief and hope for the future.
“I think they had to do it, how could a team have so many tough losses…they had to make a change,” said fan Dennis Donn.
Another fan, Drew Feldstein, agreed.
“I love it. I think it’s too late, of course. I think it was tactical for the Bears to do it obviously after some of the mishaps this season,” he said.
So what’s next?
Bears offensive coordinator Thomas Brown will assume the role of interim head coach. Brown has led Chicago’s offense in each of the last three weeks, a unit that has totaled 22 third-down conversions and a league-high 46 points scored in the second half. That’s the third-most in the NFL since Week 11.
Fans have a few items on their Bears’ Christmas wish list.
“Build an offensive line and get the players to believe in the coaching staff,” said Ray Garcia, a longtime fan.
“If they’re going to get a new stadium, they better get a new coach and start winning,” Donn said.
The Bears will face the San Francisco 49ers on December 8.
