Matt Eberflus Explained Why He Fired Luke Getsy
The Chicago Bears decided to shake things up this off-season. Sure, it may not have been to the larger degree many fans wanted, but the plans appear obvious. Offensive coordinator Luke Getsy and most of his staff were fired on Wednesday. Only offensive line coach Chris Morgan and tight ends coach Jim Dray were retained. Head coach Matt Eberflus made it clear at the end-of-year press conference that the decision was his. He made the call for changes, acknowledging that things weren’t working as hoped.
His reasoning for the decision was straightforward. He wasn’t seeing the growth, development, and improvement on that side of the football he’d been hoping for. There was also how ineffective the passing game was at times despite having a strong ground attack. Couple this with a perceived lack of ability to be more adaptable, and the decision to dismiss Getsy became unavoidable. Eberflus is already fielding calls with possible replacements and has a short list of names he’s interested in.
Matt Eberflus accepted reality.
Getsy was a bold choice when the Bears hired him. He was highly thought of around the league but had never coordinated an offense at the NFL level. Nobody can ever know for sure if a guy can call plays and handle situations until they’re in the fire. Sadly, Getsy failed those tests. He had a bad tendency to be predictable, conservative, and unable to craft effective plays short yardage or the red zone. It was clear players were growing frustrated with him as the season went on. Justin Fields called him out in September for “overcoaching” him. D.J. Moore took a similar dig after the loss in Green Bay, calling him “fine.”
It wouldn’t be a surprise if player exit interviews cemented this reality for Matt Eberflus and GM Ryan Poles. They need a fresh start, especially if they’re planning to draft a new quarterback, as many believe. The obvious concern is whether the head coach can lure in somebody credible. Many fear his uncertain status beyond 2024 will scare candidates away. Eberflus doesn’t feel that way. He stated he’s already been getting calls about the job. The allure of working with a potential #1 pick at quarterback likely helps.
This will be an interesting next few weeks.