Matt Eberflus' Top NFL Landing Spots in 2025 After Being Fired by Bears

Matt Eberflus has joined Dennis Allen and Robert Saleh as head coaches who are able to get an early start on their job search for 2025.

The Chicago Bears announced on Friday that Eberflus has been fired in the wake of the team's 23-20 loss to the Detroit Lions on Thanksgiving. He finished his tenure in Chicago with a 14-32 record with no playoff appearances in three seasons.

Given the lack of success Eberflus had as a head coach with the Bears, particularly the ways they were losing games this season with horrendous clock management, it seems likely he will have to work his way back up to being a head coach.

There's certainly a non-zero possibility that some team decides to hire Eberflus as a head coach this offseason—historically, the easiest way to get another head-coaching job in any sport is to have been a head coach in the past.

In Eberflus' case, though, his overall body of work in the NFL strongly suggests he's someone who is better served being a coordinator rather than a head coach.

Here are the list of teams that could reasonably pursue Eberflus to be on their coaching staff next season.

Dallas Cowboys

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ARLINGTON, TEXAS - NOVEMBER 10: Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones walks the field prior to the game against the Philadelphia Eagles at AT&T Stadium on November 10, 2024 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Sam Hodde/Getty Images)

Of the potential landing spots for Eberflus, the Dallas Cowboys are the one that would probably entertain the idea of him being their head coach.

This assumes, of course, that Mike McCarthy doesn't return in 2025. If you listen to Jerry Jones, a change may not be the given that most fans and analysts assume it would be.

I would also say Eberflus makes sense as a head-coaching option for the Cowboys if only because McCarthy was such an uninspiring choice when he got the job in 2020 that you can't rule anything out.

Practically speaking, the Cowboys are on this list because they should probably be looking for a new defensive coordinator regardless of what happens with their head-coaching situation.

Replacing Dan Quinn, who was hired as head coach of the Washington Commanders after last season, with Mike Zimmer has played a role in the defense cratering.

Eberflus received high marks for his work as defensive coordinator for the Indianapolis Colts from 2018 to '21. His unit didn't have a lot of elite players, but they frequently played hard and ranked better than their talent would suggest.

The Colts had a top-10 scoring defense three times in four years with Eberflus as coordinator.

Working with the Cowboys would be a strong starting point for Eberflus. He could be walking into a situation with Micah Parsons, Trevon Diggs and DeMarvion Overshown as three pillars on defense.

Given how much Jones loves to keep things within the Cowboys family, it probably doesn't hurt Eberflus' chances that he spent seven seasons on Jason Garrett's staff in Dallas from 2011 to '17.

Detroit Lions

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INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - NOVEMBER 24: Head coach Dan Campbell of the Detroit Lions reacts after a 24-6 victory against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium on November 24, 2024 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)

There's a strong possibility that the Detroit Lions will have to replace both of their coordinators after this season. Offensive coordinator Ben Johnson has been one of the most sought-after head-coaching candidates in each of the past two years, but he has decided to remain with the Lions.

Defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn's ascent to being a top-tier head-coaching candidate took more time than Johnson's, but it's been apparent for the past year that players think very highly of him.

An NFLPA survey of top coordinators from the 2023 season had Glenn ranked as the No. 1 guy on defense. He has received head-coaching interviews multiple times in recent years.

Given the Lions' success this season, it seems unlikely some team won't give Glenn an opportunity as a head coach.

Replacing Glenn with Eberflus would be a notable shift in Detroit's defensive scheme. Glenn's preferred coverage is man because he wants to get teams in third-and-long to let the pass-rush go to work.

Eberflus did adjust his scheme midway through the 2023 season with the Bears. He went from a heavy cover-2 system to playing primarily cover-3. The change allowed Bears cornerbacks Jaylon Johnson and Tyrique Stevenson to play closer to the line of scrimmage and run with opposing receivers.

The Lions hope that a player like rookie Terrion Arnold can develop into being as good as Johnson has been in Chicago. Getting him in Eberflus' scheme, which can also take advantage of a pass-rush led by Aidan Hutchinson, could allow the defense in Detroit to keep playing at a high level if Glenn happens to leave for another job in the offseason.

Jacksonville Jaguars

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PHILADELPHIA, PA - SEPTEMBER 16: NFL analyst Bill Belichick looks on during the game between the Philadelphia Eagles and the Atlanta Falcons on September 15, 2024 at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, PA. (Photo by Andy Lewis/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

This one requires a little bit of setup to explain, but it will all make sense by the end.

There are already rumblings about some level of mutual interest between Bill Belichick and the Jacksonville Jaguars, if the club decides to move on from Doug Pederson either during or after this season.

Let's say Pederson ends up being fired and Belichick is hired as the next head coach in Jacksonville. Belichick would almost certainly have a huge role in the defense, just as he did for the New England Patriots, but he would not necessarily be calling plays on that side of the ball.

Even if Belichick wants to be the defensive play-caller, he would still bring in someone who would have the official title of defensive coordinator.

Eberflus would make for a natural addition to his staff. Even though he doesn't necessarily have a direct connection to Belichick during his career as a coach, there are secondary connections that could help boost his stock.

During his college playing days at Toledo from 1988 to '91, Eberflus played under head coach Nick Saban in 1990. Belichick and Saban are very close friends who also had friendly rivalry during their coaching careers.

Eberflus also worked on Eric Mangini's staff with the Cleveland Browns from 2009 to '10. Mangini and Belichick worked together from 1997 to 2005.

When the Bears and Patriots played a game during the 2022 season, Belichick and Eberflus shared a long discussion on the field afterward and both men were very complimentary toward each other.

There are some things that would have to happen in Jacksonville for this scenario to play out, but it's not that far-fetched to think Eberflus could end up working for the Jaguars in 2025.