Chicago Bears fire head coach Matt Eberflus after recent loss

The Chicago Bears have fired head coach Matt Eberflus, the team announced Friday.

The decision to make the move comes less than 24 hours after the Bears suffered an embarrassing 23-20 loss to the Detroit Lions on Thanksgiving Day. The Bears had never made a midseason head coaching change in their 105-year history, but the magnitude of the loss on national television prompted the decision to go in a “different direction.”

Thomas Brown, who was recently named Chicago’s interim offensive coordinator after Eberflus fired offensive coordinator Shane Waldron earlier this month, will assume Chicago’s interim head coaching duties as the team prepares for a game against the San Francisco 49ers on Dec. 8.

“After meeting with (Chairman George H. McCaskey) and (President and CEO Kevin Warren), we informed Matt this morning of our decision to move in a different direction with the leadership of our football team and the head coaching position.” Ryan Poles, General Bears manager said in a statement released Friday afternoon. “I would like to thank Matt for his hard work, professionalism and commitment to our organization. We thank him for his commitment to the Chicago Bears and wish him and his family all the best for the future.”

The loss to the Lions extended the Bears’ losing streak to six and was arguably the Bears’ worst loss in years.