The Chicago Bears have fired head coach Matt Eberflus, the team announced on Friday afternoon, and made some history in doing so. This marks the first time in the franchise’s 105 years that a head coach has been fired during the season.

Eberflus finished with a 14-32 record in two-plus seasons as Bears head coach.

ESPN’s Adam Schefter was first to report the news on Friday afternoon, just over two ours after the Bears had Eberflus conducted a media availability as coach.

Thomas Brown will take over as interim head coach.

Team chairman George McCaskey has been against such moves in the past, but this one seemed more likely following Thursday’s 23-20 loss to the Detroit Lions.

His decision to not call a timeout on third down and just outside field-goal range certainly didn’t help. But it was the tenor and tone in the locker room that may have been more influential following the team’s sixth straight loss.

Players were openly criticizing Eberflus’ choices, and some seem to have tuned out his postgame message.

This obviously wasn’t a single-game decision.

Eberflus was handed the keys to a talented roster that ultimately unperformed throughout the 2024 campaign. The team’s decline from a 4-2 start to six consecutive losses is at issue, with the team losing four one-score games in heartbreaking fashion, with Eberflus’ teams unable to perform in do-or-die situations.

His record in one-score games is the worst among NFL head coaches with 20-plus games decided by seven points or fewer, per the Associated Press. That’s a brutal stat that has defined this season. The Bears also haven’t won a true road game since Nov. 27 of last year and have a 3-19 road record under Eberflus’ tenure.

Those things have something to do with coaching. While he’s known as an excellent defensive play caller, his game management has been called into question. That includes use of the clock and challenges, where he has routinely struggled.

Eberflus was hired on Jan. 27, 2022 by general manager Ryan Poles, who formally assumed his post just a few days earlier. The pair formed a solid working relationship and regularly praised each other’s efforts, but results ultimately matter most and Eberflus could get a talented roster to win regularly.

Pace pondered a change at head coach last offseason but kept Eberflus around. The continuity achieved heading into the Caleb Williams draft pick ultimately didn’t last long, leaving the No. 1 overall selection to start over with a new head coach and offensive scheme.