The Chicago Bears' decision to fire offensive coordinator Shane Waldron on Tuesday was a necessary move to salvage what remains of the 2024 season and an effort to try to do right by No. 1 pick Caleb Williams. It is also, perhaps above all, a poor reflection on head coach Matt Eberflus.
Waldron is the second offensive coordinator hired by Eberflus to be fired. The last one, Luke Getsy, was dismissed less than 12 months ago, meaning Eberflus had to fire his hand-picked OC twice in one calendar year. And that's not even mentioning that Getsy was hired and fired again in that same stretch by the Las Vegas Raiders.
Firing Waldron is a last-ditch attempt to save the Bears' season and fans are piling on Eberflus for getting exposed in his decision-making yet again. Frustration is clearly mounting as the third-year head coach has shown little improvement and keeps having to replace staff members for one reason or another.
Here's a sampling of the sentiments circulating following the big news of the day for Chicago.
Eberflus to Waldron pic.twitter.com/zKusAzInbk
— Kyle Brandt (@KyleBrandt) November 12, 2024
Matt Eberflus firing Shane Waldron pic.twitter.com/FmD2W05jxZ
— Sam Wagman (@swagman95) November 12, 2024
Matt Eberflus was allowed to make a scapegoat of 2 offensive coordinators in the span of 10 months. And he still has a job.
— Brendan Sugrue (@BrendanSugrue) November 12, 2024
The shielding of Eberflus is insane. This is his team. Waldron, while deserving of a firing, was only there for 8 games. This is years of rot with Eberflus at the helm
— Let the Ladder Down (@FlowsAndolini) November 12, 2024
Wake me up when Eberflus is also canned
— Chandler Bing Parody (@ChandlerBing_12) November 12, 2024
UNREAL that Eberflus gets to hire another OC https://t.co/iGNkxVR3tN
— Chief (@BarstoolChief) November 12, 2024
Shane Waldron is the eighth member of Matt Eberflus’ coaching staff to be fired or resign in the past 14 months.
— Dan Wiederer (@danwiederer) November 12, 2024
And with this, Matt Eberflus is officially dead coach walking.
— Bill Zimmerman (@BillTZimmerman) November 12, 2024
You don't get 3 OCs in 3 years with a number one overall pick at QB and survive. https://t.co/lj6ETdG2PL
Eberflus has now fired 5 offensive coaches in the last 1.5 seasons.
— Just Another Year Chicago: Bears (@JAYChi_Bears) November 12, 2024
That’s bad.
Another fantastic “endorsement” for Matt Eberflus. https://t.co/pJ5y0zZGK6
— Aaron Leming (@AaronLemingNFL) November 12, 2024
Eberflus is 14-29 as Chicago's head coach after Sunday's loss to the New England Patriots. The Bears are headed for a third straight season finishing dead last in the NFC North. He's going to have a target on his back for the remaining games the Bears have unless significant improvement is shown over the final eight weeks.
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This article was originally published on www.si.com as NFL Fans Clown Bears HC Matt Eberflus After Shane Waldron Firing.