Matt Eberflus didn't escape a Thanksgiving fiasco after all.
The Bears fired Eberflus on Friday, NFL Network Insiders Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero reported, per sources informed of the situation.
Thomas Brown, promoted to offensive coordinator a little over two weeks ago, takes over as interim head coach, according to Rapoport, Pelissero and NFL Network Insider Mike Garafolo.
Chicago announced both Eberflus' firing and Browns' elevation shortly after.
"This morning, after meeting with (chairman) George (McCaskey) and (team president) Kevin (Warren), we informed Matt of our decision to move in a different direction with the leadership of our football team and the head coaching position," general manager Ryan Poles said in a statement released by the team. "I thank Matt for his hard work, professionalism and dedication to our organization. We extend our gratitude for his commitment to the Chicago Bears and wish him and his family the best moving forward."
Warren added: "I support Ryan and the decision that was made this morning. We understand how imperative the head coaching role is for building and maintaining a championship-caliber team, leading our players and our organization. Our fans have stood by us and persevered through every challenge, and they deserve better results. Our organizational and operational structure is strong, focused, aligned and energized for the future."
Eberflus met with reporters on Friday morning, expressing his confidence he'd be at the helm in Week 14. About two hours later, he's out after less than three full seasons.
The firing marks the first time in Bears franchise history they've parted with a coach midseason.
Eberflus ends his tenure in Chicago with a 14-32 record. He started each of his three seasons with four or fewer wins through Week 12.
There were calls in Chicago to move on from Eberflus in the offseason, offering a clean slate for rookie quarterback Caleb Williams to grow. Instead, the Bears stuck with the head coach, who hired new offensive coordinator Shane Waldron.
Despite improved weapons, the offense got off to a rocky start to the season. Chicago fired Waldron after Week 10, promoting Brown from passing game coordinator to play-caller. The move jumpstarted the offense, but Eberflus' defense, which had been the backbone of the team, deteriorated.
Following a Week 7 bye, the Bears have been on a six-game losing skid that included some glaring coaching errors. First came the Week 8 Hail Mary against Washington, a woeful showing at home against New England, and a Week 11 blocked field goal to lose to rival Green Bay. Thursday’s debacle was the rotten cherry on top. With a timeout in his pocket, Eberflus watched his rookie quarterback burn too much time following a sack with 32 seconds left. Instead of getting at least a game-tying field-goal attempt, Chicago wasted the rest of the clock for a desperation heave that fell incomplete.
Incomplete is how Eberflus' tenure ends.
Although the midseason firing is a first for the Bears, the situation the team finds itself in is not new: Williams will become Chicago's third straight first-round QB to play under a different head coach in his second season than his first, following in the footsteps of Mitchell Trubisky (John Fox) and Justin Fields (Matt Nagy).
Brown is now tasked with guiding Chicago through the final five weeks before the Bears brass determines the best coach to nurture Williams' future.
