MOBILE, Ala. — The Bears could host their former coach, offensive coordinator and quarterback at Soldier Field next season. Not all at the same time, of course, but they’re lined up to face Matt Eberflus, Luke Getsy and perhaps Justin Fields.
Eberflus is the Cowboys’ new defensive coordinator, Getsy signed on full-time with the Packers as a senior assistant and the Steelers appear interested in re-signing Fields. All three teams are on the Bears’ home schedule next season as new coach Ben Johnson takes over.
Eberflus, who was fired in November with a 14-32 record, rebounded surprisingly well by landing with the Cowboys. He had long been the favorite, even after losing out on the same position after interviews with the Bengals and Falcons, and signed Tuesday.
The Cowboys’ defense has stars in Micah Persons and Trevon Diggs, but finished 31st in points allowed this season at 27.5 per game.
Eberflus was the Cowboys’ linebackers coach and passing-game coordinator from 2011 through ’17 before the Colts hired him as defensive coordinator in 2018.
The Bears fired Getsy after the 2023 season and replaced him with Shane Waldron. Getsy went to the Raiders as offensive coordinator and, like Waldron, was fired after nine games.
He pivoted to helping Packers coach Matt LaFleur as a defensive consultant late in the season, and LaFleur hired him this month to an unspecified full-time role as a senior assistant.
The Bears finished 23rd in scoring under Getsy in 2022 and 18th in ’23, and the Raiders were tied with the Bears at 28th this season.
Fields, meanwhile, was still limited as a passer but played more efficiently for the Steelers than he ever did in his three seasons with the Bears. He started six games and the Steelers went 4-2 as Fields averaged 184.3 yards per game, had just two turnovers and put up a 93.9 passer rating.
The Steelers went to Russell Wilson at that point, and he helped them reach the playoffs. Owner Art Rooney II said Monday he hopes to sign Wilson or Fields, both pending free agents, which could give Fields a shot at the Bears next season.
The Bears finalized their coordinators for the upcoming season Tuesday, announcing the hirings of offensive coordinator Declan Doyle and defensive coordinator Dennis Allen, as well as the retention of special teams coordinator Richard Hightower.