Matt Eberflus enters his third season at the helm of the Chicago Bears in 2024 after being named the 17th head coach in franchise history on January 27th, 2022. A 32-year coaching veteran, Eberflus commences his 16th year on NFL sidelines in 2024, having coordinated and led some of the league's top-ranked defenses for nearly the last decade.
Last season, Eberflus culminated his second season as head coach by leading the Bears to four victories in Chicago's last six outings, granting the Bears a four-win improvement from the season prior, which marked the franchise's biggest win improvent in over half a decade.
Leading the defense down the stretch, Eberflus' unit led the league in total rushing yards allowed (1,468) and rushing yards per game (86.4), becoming just the second team since 1970 to go from last or second to last in previous season to first in run defense (Buccaneers last in 2011 to first in 2012). Chicago's 86.4 rushing average allowed is the ninth lowest in Bears history, best since 1932 and lowest since 2018. The Bears also ranked second in opponent rushing first downs (88) and second in opponent rushing touchdowns (eight). Between Weeks 4-11, Chicago's defense did not allowed a single rushing touchdown, the longest streak in the NFL and in Bears history since 2020 (Weeks 7-12, five games).
Offensively, the Bears ranked second in the NFL in total rushing yards (2,399) and in rushing yards per game (141.1) in 2023, tying for the league-lead in rushes of 10-plus yards (74).
The production of the Bears' secondary led to defensive back Jaylon Johnson earning AP All-Pro recognition and his first Pro Bowl nod. The midseason acquisition of defensive lineman Montez Sweat provided support on the edge and leadership of the unit, as Sweat's performance down the stretch helped the veteran earn his first-career Pro Bowl nod to cap his first season as a member of the Chicago Bears.
In his first year as head coach, Eberflus' partnership with Ryan Poles was instrumental in the organization's restructure of the club's staff, roster and overall culture. The Bears found success in several areas throughout the 2022 season, as the offense set a franchise record with a league-best 3,019 rushing yards on the season, while the defense totaled the most snaps contributed by rookies among all 32 defensive units in the league.
Prior to his arrival in Chicago, Eberflus spent four seasons as Defensive Coordinator of the Indianapolis Colts, orchestrating one of the league's top-ranked defensive units. With the support of Eberflus' defense, the Colts made two appearances in the postseason. Over his final two seasons in Indianapolis, Eberflus' group became the only defense to be ranked top-10 in the NFL in takeaways, run defense and fewest points allowed in each of his final two seasons (2020 and 2021), as Eberflus' unit also finished the season as the least-penalized defense in the league two out of his four seasons with the Colts.
A keen eye for talent and a background of developing productive linebackers, Eberflus was instrumental in the growth and progression of linebacker Shaquille Leonard. In his first season guiding Indianapolis' defense, Eberflus groomed the rookie out of South Carolina State, acclimating Leonard to the NFL game as a leader of the defensive unit. Leonard, with Eberflus as his defensive coordinator, went on to be named NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2018 after recording the most tackles by any player in the NFL and leading the Colts to the postseason, ultimately defeating the Houston Texans in the AFC Wild Card Round to advance to the Divisional Playoffs in their first season together. In total, over their four seasons together, Leonard would earn three AP First-Team All-Pro recognitions with Eberflus as his coordinator.
After inheriting a Colts defense that finished 30th in the NFL in both scoring and total yards in 2017, Eberflus helped improve Indianapolis to rank 10th in scoring and 11th in yards allowed in his first year directing the group in 2018. As a team, Indianapolis became just the second franchise in NFL history to start a season 1-5 and win a playoff game. In 2019, Eberflus' defense remained stout against the run, finishing seventh in the league after allowing 97.9 yards per game, marking the first time that the Colts, who ranked eighth in rush defense in 2018, finished the year ranked in the top-10 in run defense in back-to-back seasons since 1976-77. Indianapolis also ranked in the top-10 in interceptions (15, seventh) and takeaways (23, tied-10th).
In his third season leading the defense, Eberflus led the league's No. 2-ranked run defense, allowing an AFC-best just 90.5 yards per game. Indianapolis' top-five ranking in run defense marked the first time that the franchise achieved the accomplishment since 1971. The Colts, who finished the season 11-5 and with a postseason berth, accumulated 25 takeaways, tied for fifth-most in the league.
In 2021, Indianapolis, tied for the league-lead in fumble recoveries (14), while tying for third-best in the NFL in opponent three-and-out percentage (22.7 pct.) and interceptions (19). Eberflus' unit also tied for the fourth-most redzone takeaways in the league, finishing top-10 in points allowed per game (21.5, ninth).
Following his first season coordinating the Colts' defense, Eberflus finished third in voting for the AP Assistant Coach of the Year Award in 2018.
Eberflus began his NFL coaching tenure coaching the linebackers for the Cleveland Browns (2009-10), before embarking on a seven-season stretch with the Dallas Cowboys, leading the linebackers group (2011-15) and adding passing game coordinator responsibilities over his final two seasons (2016-17). In his final season with Dallas, Eberflus' linebacker group accounted for 34 percent of the tackles for the league's No. 8-ranked total defense (318.1 yards per game) and eighth-ranked rushing defense (104.0 yards per game). In Eberflus' first season in Dallas (2011), he inherited a group that was spearheaded by All-Pro DeMarcus Ware, who registered 19.5 sacks, good for second in the NFC and the NFL and tops amongst all linebackers in the league, en route to his sixth-consecutive selection as a Pro Bowl starter.
Before entering the NFL, Eberflus spent 17 seasons in the collegiate ranks. Starting his career at his alma mater, the University of Toledo, as a Student Assistant in 1992, Eberflus went on hold the roles of Graduate Assistant (1993), Outside Linebackers Coach (1994-98) and Defensive Backs Coach (1999-2000), while also contributing as Recruiting Coordinator from 1994-95 on top of his positional responsibilities, for the Rockets.
Eberflus then joined the staff at the University of Missouri, where he would contribute the next eight seasons as Defensive Coordinator/Defensive Backs Coach (2001-05), before adding Associate Head Coach responsibilities, holding the role of Associate Head Coach/Defensive Coordinator/Safeties Coach from 2006-08. With Eberflus' guidance and direction, the Tigers won the Big 12 North crown in 2007 and 2008, compiling a 22-6 record over his final two seasons at Missouri.
A two-time First-Team All-Mid-American Conference linebacker and team captain at Toledo, Eberflus was a three-year starter and four-year letterwinner for the Rockets, earning the Nicholson Award as the team's Most Valuable Player following his final season. Earning his bachelor's degree in education from the university in 1993, Eberflus was honored by an induction into the Toledo Athletic Hall of Fame in 2004.
Eberflus and his wife, Kelly, have two daughters, Grace and Giada.
