The Chicago Bears had victory within reach, poised to go 5-2 with a close win over the Washington Commanders—until Washington’s Jayden Daniels launched a stunning Hail Mary as time expired, snatching the game and sending Bears fans reeling. In the aftermath, Bears head coach Matt Eberflus has faced a storm of criticism for his clock management and decision-making, which culminated in his controversial post-game comments. Eberflus defended his choice not to call a timeout before the game’s final play and downplayed Washington’s second-to-last play, a 13-yard gain that set up the improbable pass. Fans and analysts, unimpressed, are calling out the third-year coach for what they see as a lack of accountability.
Adding fuel to the fire, Carl Williams—father of Bears rookie quarterback Caleb Williams—seemed to indirectly take aim at Eberflus. Following the game, Williams reposted a video shared by Washington Post reporter Nicki Jhabvala, which showed Commanders defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio openly criticizing his own performance. Williams captioned the post with hashtags “#accountability” and “#realcoach,” a move widely interpreted as a thinly veiled shot at Eberflus. Though Carl Williams later deleted the post and claimed his comment was “innocent,” it has intensified scrutiny on the Bears’ coaching situation.
Eberflus’ tenure with the Bears has been rocky, with his record sitting at 14-27. He retained his position after “extensive meetings” in January, with GM Ryan Poles citing “stability” as a key reason for keeping him on. But as Chicago’s brutal schedule looms, Eberflus’ hold on the team appears shakier than ever. While Chicago improved marginally from their 2022 performance last season, they face a daunting NFC North that’s stronger than ever. The Bears are yet to face any of their division rivals—all currently playoff-bound with a combined 17-5 record.
The remaining schedule isn’t friendly to Eberflus and his team. They’ll take on a healthy 49ers squad, the resurgent Seahawks, and a Cardinals team that’s outperformed expectations. The Bears’ best chance to relieve some pressure may come this week as they host the New England Patriots (2-6), the only team left on their schedule with a losing record. New England, despite an upset win over the Jets last week, has struggled mightily this season.
If the Bears can capitalize against the Patriots on Sunday, it might provide a reprieve for Eberflus. But with Caleb Williams’ father inadvertently highlighting frustrations with the Bears’ coaching, Eberflus may find that the spotlight—and the pressure—only intensifies.
