Matt Eberflus enters his third year in Chicago in 2024 after being named the 17th head coach in franchise history on January 27th, 2022. Eberflus comes into the 2024 season with 32 years of coaching experience, including 15 in the National Football League.
The Bears finished their second season under Eberflus with a 7-10 record, a four-win improvement from the previous season. This marked the franchise's biggest win improvement since 2017-18 (seven wins). The Bears defense led the league in rushing yards allowed (1,468) and rushing yards per game (86.4). They became 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). Their 86.4 rushing average allowed is the 9th lowest in Bears history since 1932 and lowest since 2018. They also ranked second in opponent rushing first downs (88), second in opponent rushing touchdowns (8). The Bears only allowed four rushing touchdowns since the first half in Week 3 against Kansas City. Between Weeks 4-11, they had not allowed a single rushing touchdown, the longest streak in the NFL and in Bears history since 2020 (Weeks 7-12, five games).
On offense, the Bears ranked second in the NFL this season in total rushing yards (2,399) and in rushing yards per game (141.1). They also ranked second in carries (534) and tied for first in rushes of 10+ yards (74). In first quarters, the Bears offense ranked tied for first in the NFL in yards per completion (13.0), second in first downs (86), third in total scrimmage yards (1,681), yards per touch (8.2), scrimmage yards per game (98.9) and seventh in yards per rush (4.89).
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: On the offensive side of the ball, the Bears finished the 2022 season with record-setting rushing performances from quarterback Justin Fields while also setting a team franchise rushing record with a league-high 3,019 rushing yards, the most ever by a Bears offense since the start of the 1920 NFL season.
Defensively, Eberflus helped guide the youngest on-field roster in the NFL, as Bears defensive rookies led all teams with 3,538 total snaps. Despite a young roster, the Bears' defense finished the season ranked among the Top-10 in several categories: completions allowed (323, 6th), interception percentage (2.9%, 8th), interception yards (201, 9th) and fourth down conversions (6, 1st) to name a few. Individually, safety Eddie Jackson saw a bounce-back season prior to being placed on IR. In Weeks 1-12 before suffering an injury, Jackson ranked third among all NFL safeties in solo tackles (59), fifth in total tackles (80) and his four interceptions were tied for second in the NFL and the most by a Bears safety since the start of the 1991 season.
Prior to his arrival in Chicago, Eberflus had most recently completed his fourth season as defensive coordinator for the Indianapolis Colts in 2021. Under Eberflus the Colts were the only NFL defensive unit to be ranked in the top-10 in scoring, run defense and takeaways in each of the past two seasons. The Colts finished in the top-10 in the NFL in run defense and takeaways in all four of his years, top-10 in scoring defense in three of the four and were the least penalized defense in the league in 2019 and 2021.
Eberflus' impact in Indianapolis was immediate. After inheriting a Colts defense that finished 30th in the NFL in both scoring and total yards in 2017, Eberflus helped the unit improve to 10th in scoring and 11th in yards in his first year in 2018. After finishing with a 4-12 record in 2017, the Colts rebounded to earn a wild card berth with a 10-6 mark in 2018, beating the Texans in the first round of the playoffs before losing to the Chiefs in the divisional round.
With a coaching background rooted in the linebacker position, Eberflus helped develop linebacker Darius Leonard into one of the most productive linebackers in the NFL. Since being selected by the Colts in the second round of the 2018 NFL Draft, Leonard is a three-time Associated Press All-Pro and three-time Pro Bowler. His career totals include 538 tackles, 30 tackles for loss, 15.0 sacks, 11 interceptions, 30 passes defensed, 17 forced fumbles and seven fumble recoveries. Leonard went on to win 2018 AP Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2018 under Eberflus' guidance.
In 2021, the Colts tied for first in the NFL in fumble recoveries (14) and tied for third in both interceptions (19) and opponent three-and-out percentage (.227). They also tied for fourth in red zone takeaways (4), ranked fifth overall in forced fumbles (17) and ninth in points allowed (21.5).
In 2020, the Colts finished in the top-10 in numerous categories, including total defense (332.1 yards per game, eighth), rush defense (90.5 yards per game, second), interception rate (2.67, eighth), takeaways (25, tied-fifth), first downs allowed per game (20.6, eighth), goal-to-go percentage (70.0, tied-ninth), points per game allowed (22.6, tied-10th) and safeties (three, tied-first). It marked the first time since 1971 that the Colts finished in the top-five in run defense and the first time since 2007 that Indianapolis ranked in the top-10 in total defense.
In 2019, the Indianapolis defense was stout against the run and finished seventh in the league after allowing 97.9 yards per game. It marked 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. The Indianapolis defense also ranked in the top-10 in interceptions (15, seventh) and takeaways (23, tied-10th).
In 2018, Eberflus was part of a Colts team that finished with a 10-6 regular season record, won in the AFC Wild Card Round and had an appearance in the AFC Divisional Round. Indianapolis became the third team in NFL history to start a season 1-5 and make the playoffs. Additionally, the Colts were the second team in NFL history to start a season 1-5 and win a playoff game.
Inheriting a defensive roster infused with youth in 2018, Eberflus guided a Colts defense that finished 11th in the league in total defense. The unit also ranked eighth in rush defense, which was the team's best mark since 1995 (sixth). Indianapolis finished 10th in the NFL in points allowed and registered the second-most tackles for loss in the league (91). The Colts were one of only three teams to not allow a 100-yard rusher despite facing five of the top-10 rushers in the NFL. The Indianapolis defense forced at least one turnover in a league-most 15 games, including multiple turnovers in seven games. They also forced a turnover in each postseason contest. For his efforts, Eberflus finished third in the voting for the 2018 Associated Press NFL Assistant Coach of the Year.
Eberflus began his NFL career with the Browns as a linebackers coach (2009-10) before spending seven seasons with the Cowboys as linebackers coach (2011-17)—and adding passing game coordinator to his duties in 2016-17.
From 2016-17, the Cowboys boasted one of the league's best rushing defenses, including No. 1 overall in 2016. In 2017, he guided a linebacker group that accounted for 34 percent of the tackles for the league's No. 8 ranked defense (318.1 yards per game) and rushing defense (104.0 yards per game).
In 2011, Eberflus' first season in Dallas, 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 was a college coach for 17 years. He started his career at Toledo, his alma mater, as a student assistant (1992), graduate assistant (1993), outside linebackers coach (1994-98), defensive backs coach (1999-2000) and recruiting coordinator (1994-95).
After leaving Toledo, Eberflus spent eight seasons as defensive coordinator at Missouri from 2001-08, serving as the team's associate head coach/defensive coordinator/safeties coach (2006-08) and defensive coordinator/defensive backs coach (2001-05). While with Missouri, Eberflus helped guide the Tigers to the Big 12 North Division title in 2007 and 2008, compiling a 22-6 record over that span.
As a player, Eberflus was a four-year letterman and three-year starting linebacker at Toledo. He earned first-team All-MAC honors and led his team in tackles as both a junior and senior. As a senior he was voted team captain and was awarded the Nicholson Award as the team's Most Valuable Player. Eberflus earned a degree in education in 1993 and was inducted into Toledo's Athletic Hall of Fame in 2004.
Eberflus and his wife, Kelly, have two daughters, Grace and Giada.
