"You stayed together and gave great effort": Former Bears coach Matt Eberflus breaks silence after firing, expresses gratitude to Chicago fans

Former Chicago Bears head coach Matt Eberflus has broken his silence following his unexpected dismissal on Friday. The move came as a shock to many, especially given the team's recent improvement and Eberflus's public optimism just hours before the firing. Eberflus became the first head coach to ever be fired by Chicago in the middle of the season.

In a Friday morning press conference, Eberflus expressed confidence in continuing his role as head coach and was focused on the upcoming Week 13 matchup against the San Francisco 49ers. Just hours later, the decision to part ways with him was made. Despite the circumstances, Eberflus took the high road, extending his appreciation to his team. Following that decision, the ex HC took the moment to thank everyone involved.

"I want to express my heartfelt gratitude to the players for all of their effort, dedication and resilience," Eberflus stated, as reported by CBS Sports' Jonathan Jones. "In every situation - practice, games and especially in the face of adversity, you stayed together and gave great effort for your team and each other."
Eberflus’ dismissal marked a historical first, as no Chicago Bears head coach had ever been fired mid-season before. The decision came after a challenging three-year tenure where he posted a record of 14-32. Despite showing promise in 2023 with an improved 7-10 record compared to 3-14 in 2022, the Bears struggled to capitalize on their momentum, often losing critical games by narrow margins.
General Manager Ryan Poles also expressed gratitude for Eberflus’ contributions, stating, "I thank Matt for his hard work, professionalism and dedication to our organization. We extend our gratitude for his commitment to the Chicago Bears and wish him and his family the best moving forward."
To stabilize the team, the Bears promoted former offensive coordinator Thomas Brown to interim head coach. Brown, who began the season as Chicago's passing game coordinator, stepped into the role after the departure of Shane Waldron earlier in the season.
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The Bears’ season has been riddled with heartbreaking losses, including a Hail Mary defeat to the Washington Commanders in Week 8 and a last-second blocked field goal against the Green Bay Packers in Week 11. These close calls highlighted both the team’s potential and the challenges that ultimately led to Eberflus’ dismissal.