Jan 7, 2024; Green Bay, Wisconsin, USA; Chicago Bears head coach Matt Eberflus looks on during the third quarter against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports
Ryan Poles desired for his feelings to pass and for the dust to settle.
To validate the improvements he believed the squad had made in the previous two months, the general manager of the Chicago Bears felt the team needed a “so bad” victory against the Green Bay Packers in the season finale. The Bears then faltered in a 17-9 loss at Lambeau Field, giving Poles more evidence that the squad is “just not there yet,” just as they had hoped when they had the chance to eliminate their biggest foe from the playoffs.
The setback was so painful for Poles and other Bears executives that Kevin Warren, the team’s president and CEO, kept the Packers security tag in his briefcase for a few more days until he came to terms with the loss.
Coach Matt Eberflus and Poles performed player exit interviews over the course of the next 24 hours. Subsequently, he and the Bears administration, exercising composure, went over the data they had gathered throughout the season to decide on the coaching staff’s future.
The Bears announced on Wednesday, three days after the defeat, that they had fired offensive coordinator Luke Getsy as well as four offensive position coaches. However, Eberflus, who had gone 10-24 in his first two seasons, would remain on the team.
Citing Eberflus’ leadership, stability and adaptability during a 7-10 season, Poles hitched the team’s future to the idea that Eberflus has laid the groundwork for a championship team — and that the best thing for the young Bears is to maintain continuity at the top, even though plenty will change on offense in 2024.
“A significant portion of it was the stability,” Poles stated. “The specifics with which he instructs.”
“A significant portion of it was the stability,” Poles stated. “The specifics with which he instructs.” I saw a lot of improvement in that when we brought some of the game’s blunders into practice and made sure we were doing things correctly.We increased from three to seven wins for a purpose. Not only is the individual component crucial, but so are the details and uniting the team. We were able to persevere because of those difficult moments, and you noticed that many of those victories occurred in the latter part of the season.I genuinely don’t believe that to be the case if it’s not for him. I believe it begins to fall apart.
