Bears See Their Coordinator Jobs as Coveted

The Bears might like the ability to gain yards on the ground afforded them by the job Luke Getsy did as offensive coordinator.

It didn't equate to wins in the modern NFL, though, and even being a bit of a traditionalist, coach Matt Eberflus could see this.

So Eberflus looked at the lack of scoring and passing, then made the only decision he saw possible and fired offensive coordinator Luke Getsy, along with quarterbacks coach Andrew Janocko, receivers coach Tyke Tolbert, running backs coach Omar Young and assistant tight ends coach Tim Zetts

"I think when you're running an organization, a team, a football team and you're the head of that, you've got to make tough decisions, and those tough decisions were made, and we feel it's in the best interest for the Bears to do that," Eberflus said.

The Bears finished first in rushing last season and second this season but were last in 2022 (32nd) in passing and 28th in 2023.

"Yeah, just the growth and development of the offense to me needed to be better than what it was," Eberflus said. "To me, you look at the passing game, certainly that's one aspect of it, and that's where it is.

"We've decided to move on from that. And again, that was my decision. Obviously conferring with Ryan (Poles) and George (McCaskey) and Kevin (Warren), we made that decision this morning."

So they move on looking for another coordinator and in the next-to-last year of Eberflus' contract. Such situations are not exactly desireable for coordinator candidates or assistants because of the lack of security.

Team president Kevin Warren said there is no current plan to get Eberflus a contract extension even though it might be something that could entice coordinator candidates because they would see it as a more secure situation.

"I don't think we'll have a problem at all getting world class candidates, not only from an offensive coordinator and quarterback coach standpoint and a defensive coordinator standpoint, this is a job that people are excited about to come here and we have a lot of talent," Warren said. "It's always exciting to join an organization when you're on the upswing to be able to help take it to the top."

Poles described it as a situation where calls are coming in from interested parties already anyway.

"They love the talent that we have," Warren said. "They love the draft capital that we have to be able to use. They love our salary cap situation. They appreciate the stability of the ownership of over 100 years.

"The perception of what people think about the Chicago Bears, this is a very, very unique opportunity."

The defensive coordinator position is included in there because they haven't filled it since Alan Williams' resignation in Week 3. Eberflus said he's not sure if he's going to continue calling plays defensively as he did last year, but there is a need for someone in a coordinator role regardless.

As for the offensive coordinator, they're looking for candidates who can figure things out as a game progresses as much as those who can come up with good game plans.

"I think you have to have identity for sure but you also have to be able to adjust," Eberflus said. "You have to be able to stand on something. Running the football is one of them, and I also think that being adjustable and adaptable is another one.

"Getting the explosives, which I think was referred to (by the question), is obviously how you score points. That's how you score points, and again, we're going to have to continue to grow that way."

Poles doubts the situation with Eberflus being in a year when he needs to win will matter to the right OC or DC.

"I think they're gonna look at the roster and see there is a lot of young, talented players on the roster that they really want to work with," Poles said. "It's gonna elevate that platform and elevate our team to be a championship caliber team. And when you win championships, there is a lot of really cool things that happen with everybody.

"So I think they're gonna see that as a good opportunity."

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