The Real Problem with The Bears

By Matt Gillie, 11/16/24

Einstein said, “Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.” If I didn’t know any better, I’d think he was talking about the Chicago Bears.

I moved to the Chicago area in 2006 and started following the Bears to bond with new friends and co-workers. It was a great time to jump on the bandwagon—they were a ton of fun to watch. Devin Hester, Brian Urlacher, Lance Briggs, Cedric Benson, and Olin Kreutz made the team electrifying. The Bears were a star-studded team, quarterbacked by another guy playing over his talent level—a hallmark of the Chicago Bears as an organization. If only I’d had a crystal ball back then to see where the organization would end up. Although, in hindsight, I didn’t really need that crystal ball.

There isn’t enough space in this post—or time in my day—to explain how we got here or to fully express my frustration, but the Bears are once again a complete joke of a team. In their current state, they are unwatchable. Mediocrity and failure have become acceptable, there’s zero accountability, and it certainly seems like there’s turmoil in the locker room.

After years of shifting blame onto Justin Fields, the Bears drafted a so-called “generational talent” in Caleb Williams. Just like his predecessors, Caleb has been tasked with running bubble screen after bubble screen while scrambling for his life behind an offensive line that isn’t much better than a mediocre Division I college team. Meanwhile, in what I can only assume is an attempt to save himself, Matt Eberflus fired first-year offensive coordinator Shane Fraudron (Waldron)—his third play-caller in less than three years as head coach.

So, who’s the magic hire to turn this disaster around? Thomas Brown. Yes, absolutely! Thomas Brown, the offensive coordinator of the 3–7 Panthers. The same Panthers who, thanks to a fleecing by the Bears, have their own “generational talent” who was benched after an 0–2 start and has shown little to no developmental progress. That’s the guy? Really? C'mon.

Last week, the Bears lost 19–3 to the talent-devoid New England Patriots. Caleb Williams threw for just 120 yards, D’Andre Swift—who should be an X-factor—managed only 56 yards against the sixth-worst run defense in the league, and no wide receiver had more than 50 yards.

PATHETIC!

Heading into Week 11 against the Packers, it’s hard to feel any sense of hope. But, have the Bears hit rock bottom? Fact: No current Bear has ever been on a team that’s beaten the Packers. That’s right—none, zero, nada. And as Aaron Rodgers famously reminded us, prior to leaving his career and legacy in Green Bay for a date with the Jets, the Packers “own” the Bears. Last week, Bears fans left Soldier Field early, booing as they went. I wouldn’t be surprised if the stadium is half-empty by the start of the second half this week. Unfortunately for Bears fans, there’s always another bottom.

SELL THE TEAM!