The 2024 season was supposed to be different for the Chicago Bears, and it certainly has been.
Among the many notable moments on the field, the organization has also endured turmoil within the confines of Halas Hall. Multiple coaches have been fired, setting a historic precedent for one of the NFL’s oldest franchises. An in-season head coaching change was supposed to help stop the bleeding.
Instead, the Bears may have created even more issues for themselves. And the one question that remains is, who will answer for the failures next?
Bears-49ers Takeaways: The Ryan Poles & Kevin Warren Show
Someone Has to Take Command at Halas Hall
On Monday, December 2, three days after relieving former head coach Matt Eberflus of his duties, Bears president Kevin Warren and general manager Ryan Poles sat before reporters and tried to assure them – as well as fans and prospective candidates – they were in lock-step.
Warren gave an emphatic endorsement of Poles with assurances he would be in place next season as well as lead the search for the Bears’ next head coach. Less than one week later, the 49ers boat-raced the Bears, leading 24-0 at halftime.
It may be rarer for a GM to only get to hire one head coach before being fired.
It is not unheard of, though, and Warren’s strong endorsement of Poles could backfire in more ways than one for the current top voice in Halas Hall not named “McCaskey.” First, if potential head coaching candidates view Poles unfavorably, Warren’s allegiance could present an issue.
Or, candidates could wonder how long that allegiance will last. Perhaps they would be swept up in the next housecleaning efforts in Lake Forest.
Poles has been lauded for his work turning over the Bears’ roster in his three years at the helm.
However, many of his decisions have also backfired, and the team’s lack of success on the field has done nothing to hide those misses. They have left the Bears light on draft capital in some years and undermanned and overmatched in others.
What happens next is critical for an organization desperate to prove it is not on the very path it is currently screaming down.
Promotion to IHC Negated The Thomas Brown Effect for Bears vs 49ers
Thomas Brown’s debut as interim head coach was a dud, though it is hard to imagine a tougher situation to step into.
Still, the decision to move on from Eberflus for Brown was notable.
We have gone through all of the potential positives at length. But it is also rife with potential negative outcomes. What is more, many of them seem to have come to fruition in Game 1 of the new setup.
Removing Brown from his offensive coordinator position and elevating him to head coach also took him further away from Caleb Williams.
It cannot be ignored what Williams did once Brown took over as offensive coordinator.
It also cannot be ignored how the rookie looked – much like he did before the OC change – with Brown out of the booth and back on the sidelines in a different role. Had the Bears moved on from Eberflus sooner, or hired Brown as his OC, perhaps there would have been less turmoil.
The Bears’ defense stood up many times early in the season only for the offense to come up short.
Toward the end of Eberflus’ tenure, it was the defense that could not hold up its end of the deal.
Now, the Bears find themselves at square minus-1. Their offense is back to being sluggish out of the gate in games. Their defense is too porous to hold on until the other side of the ball gets going.
That is not Brown’s fault. But he will likely be made the fall guy if there is no progress in the weeks to come.
What does that mean for his candidacy in Chicago? Elsewhere?
Caleb Williams, Bears Secondary Need the Same Thing
Despite playing on two different sides of the ball, Williams and the Bears secondary – including “mini QB” Kyler Gordon – need the same thing, which was also clear versus the 49ers.
They need help up front.
That is unlikely to come in earnest until the offseason. But it is clear as day as the Bears get outmatched in the trenches week in and week out. The quality and depth of both lines was a big unknown coming into the year and those questions and doubts have proven warranted.
Notably, their defensive line is the most expensive position group, per Spotrac. But Montez Sweat accounts for most of that money.
The Bears are tied for the 10th-fewest sacks on the season.
Conversely, the offensive line is their fifth most expensive position group. The Bears have allowed the second-most sacks, many of which Williams has admitted are on him. They have also allowed the 10th-highest pressure rate, per Pro Football Reference.
That the Bears need so much help up front despite what they have done to address both those needs is a cause for concern.
Now, what will Poles or Warren – or whomever – do to correct it?