Chicago Bears players acknowledged the locker room had a problem with the culture in 2024. The Bears let a Hail Mary pass at the end of their 18-15 loss to the Washington Commanders turn into a 10-game losing streak.
Much of the losing streak had to do with Matt Eberflus’ late-game decision-making. The Bears ultimately decided to fire Eberflus from his head coaching position on Nov. 29, one day after his decision not to call a timeout late in their contest against the Detroit Lions turned into another loss.
The Chicago Bears players want a culture change
Cornerback Jaylon Johnson called out Eberflus for his shortcomings in the locker room after the loss on Thanksgiving in Detroit. But players had been leaking problems with the staff to the media before that game, and at least as early as before their matchup with the Los Angeles Rams on. Sept. 29 when Fox Sports’ Jay Glazer reported tight end Marcedes Lewis told him that multiple players had a meeting with then-offensive coordinator Shane Waldron to discuss the fact that he needed to coach up Caleb Williams and the offense.
Related: George McCaskey was ‘bothered’ by Bears fan’s reaction to season
Players have repeatedly expressed issues with the coaching staff keeping the team accountable, with the problem beginning in the summer. Keenan Allen and DeMarcus Walker said they want a head coach with experience who can help with the culture.
Chairman George McCaskey has a different take.
George McCaskey blamed the players for the culture
During his end-of-season press conference, McCaskey began his appearance by praising Eberflus for his hard work with the Bears. Following a question about what he made of players saying accountability was lacking in the locker room and that Williams wasn’t challenged as hard as he could have been, McCaskey blamed the players for not holding each other accountable.
“I think the players are the best barometers of things like accountability,” McCaskey said. “It is said that the great teams are really run by the players–that there’s leadership in the locker room to bring that about. And we need to do better in that area, going forward.”
Despite firing a head coach in-season for the first time in franchise history, it doesn’t sound like leadership has received the message from the locker room.
The dysfunction continues.
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