"It was a fireable finish": Ex-NFL star flames Bears HC Matt Eberflus after Lions debacle
Matt Eberflus' apparent coaching mistakes during the Bears' Thanksgiving showdown with the Detroit Lions exposed deep organizational fractures. A single moment of mismanagement became a defining point in the Bears' tumultuous season.
Ryan Clark, an ESPN analyst and former NFL player, emerged as a vocal critic. His commentary on "Get Up" during Friday's broadcast cut straight to the Bears' struggles.
"It was a fireable finish. To me, [Matt Eberflus] has absolutely sealed the deal on whether or not he should continue being the head coach of this team going forward... There is no urgency on this team, there is no preparation, no way that they understand what's happening at the moment."
The stakes were high in the Thanksgiving matchup. The Lions were on an eight-game winning streak while the Bears hoped to avoid their sixth consecutive loss. With just moments remaining, everything hung in the balance for Chicago.
Matt Eberflus coaching drama unfolds
The critical sequence began with 36 seconds left. Trailing 23-20, the Bears faced a second-and-20 at the Detroit 35-yard line. Rookie quarterback Caleb Williams was sacked by Za'Darius Smith, losing 6 yards. What followed was a clock management disaster.
Matt Eberflus inexplicably did not use his final timeout. The Bears wasted 26 seconds before snapping the ball. Williams' final deep pass to Rome Odunze fell incomplete. Cairo Santos never got a chance to attempt a potential game-tying 59-yard field goal.
Rob Maaddi from the Associated Press captured the magnitude of the moment. The Bears are now 4-8, mathematically drifting further from playoff contention. This marks their fifth straight year missing the postseason.
"Our hope was, because it was third going into fourth, that we would re-rack that play at 18 seconds, throw it inbounds, get it in field-goal range and then call a timeout," Matt Eberflus defended post game.
The irony was palpable. Williams showcased an impressive second-half performance, nearly engineering another stunning comeback.
AP's Maaddi noted the broader context: Eberflus is now 14-32 as a head coach. Each questionable decision further erodes his credibility.
Clark's critique extended beyond this single moment. He painted a broader picture of organizational failure. The lack of urgency, preparation, and strategic vision has become systemic in Chicago.