The Chicago Bears are flying high this season, and a big reason for that is the culture shift under head coach Ben Johnson. It's been a complete 180 from the Matt Eberflus era - and Bears fans can feel the difference. The team is playing with confidence, discipline, and purpose, and the results speak for themselves.
Meanwhile, down in Dallas, Eberflus is facing a very different reality. The former Bears head coach now finds himself in the hot seat as the Cowboys' defensive coordinator, and the pressure is mounting - not just from the fan base, but from the top of the organization.
Cowboys owner Jerry Jones didn’t mince words when he joined 105.3 The Fan this week. While discussing his team’s defensive struggles, Jones made it clear he doesn’t believe talent is the issue in Dallas.
Instead, he pointed a finger at the coaching staff, saying, “It seems like we’re always saying that about these QBs - some of them that haven’t played as well, but when they play us, they play better. I think that’s telling.”
That’s not exactly a vote of confidence for Eberflus, and it’s hard to argue with Jones’ frustration. Heading into Week 15, Dallas ranks near the bottom of the league in just about every major defensive category.
They’re 29th in total defense, giving up nearly 375 yards per game. Their pass defense is dead last, allowing over 254 yards through the air, and they’re 31st in scoring defense, surrendering 30 points per game.
Even more damning? The Cowboys have allowed 30 or more points in seven games this season - tied for the most in the NFL with the Raiders and Bengals.
That’s not just a bad stretch; that’s a trend. And when your offense is humming the way Dallas' is - ranked No. 1 in total offense and fourth in scoring - it makes the defensive shortcomings even more glaring.
This isn’t a case of a team struggling across the board. The Cowboys are moving the ball, putting up points, and giving themselves chances to win. But the defense hasn’t held up its end, and that’s put Eberflus directly in the crosshairs.
The critiques go beyond just stats. Cowboys fans have been vocal about Eberflus’ unwillingness to adjust his scheme.
He's been labeled as stubborn - a coach trying to fit players into his system rather than tailoring the system to fit the players. That kind of rigidity can be a career killer, especially when the results aren’t there.
And for Bears fans, this all feels familiar. They’ve seen this movie before.
Eberflus’ tenure in Chicago was marked by similar issues - defensive breakdowns, lack of adaptability, and a team that often looked unprepared in big moments. Now, they’re watching from a distance as the same problems play out in Dallas, only this time, they’re not the ones paying the price.
With the Cowboys’ playoff hopes all but extinguished, change feels inevitable. Eberflus may not be the only one on the hot seat, but he’s certainly at the center of the storm. And unless something dramatic shifts in the final stretch of the season, it’s hard to see a path forward for him in Dallas.
For now, the Bears are thriving under new leadership, while Eberflus is left trying to salvage what’s quickly turning into another lost season - this time in a different uniform, but with all-too-familiar results.