Matt Eberflus is getting another shot in the NFL.
The former Chicago Bears head coach is joining the defensive staff of the San Francisco 49ers, according to multiple reports. ESPN reporter Nick Wagoner reported that Eberflus will work under new defensive coordinator Raheem Morris as part of San Francisco’s reshaped defensive staff.
His official title has not been finalized, but league sources expect him to fill a senior defensive assistant type role.
For Eberflus, the move represents more than a simple job change. It is a chance to reset his reputation after a difficult run as an NFL head coach.
San Francisco, meanwhile, continues to stack experienced voices inside a defense that has been central to the franchise’s success in recent seasons.
A difficult chapter in Chicago
When the Chicago Bears hired Matt Eberflus in 2022, the plan was straightforward. The organization wanted a disciplined defensive identity while the roster went through a rebuild. That plan never fully came together.
Chicago finished with a 14-32 record during Eberflus’ tenure before the team moved on midway through the 2024 season. Defensive inconsistency and late-game management decisions became recurring issues throughout that stretch.
The results stood in sharp contrast to the reputation Eberflus carried into the job.
Before arriving in Chicago, he spent four seasons coordinating the defense for the Indianapolis Colts. From 2018 to 2021, the Colts experienced one of the league’s more notable defensive turnarounds.
By the end of his tenure, Indianapolis ranked inside the NFL’s top ten in several defensive categories, according to league statistics. That improvement helped elevate Eberflus into the head coaching conversation. Chicago simply never saw that same defensive consistency.
Why San Francisco believes the experience still matters
The San Francisco 49ers have built a reputation for deep coaching staffs, particularly on defense.
Head coach Kyle Shanahan often relies on experienced assistants to help with game planning and opponent preparation throughout the season. Adding Eberflus fits that approach.
This offseason brought another shift to the defensive structure. Longtime defensive leader Robert Saleh left the organization to become head coach of the Tennessee Titans, opening the door for Raheem Morris to take over the defense.
Bringing in another veteran defensive mind gives San Francisco additional perspective during weekly preparation.
Around the league, experienced assistants are often credited with helping refine game plans and offering strategic adjustments behind the scenes. That appears to be the role San Francisco envisions for Eberflus.
Chicago moves forward while Eberflus resets
The Chicago Bears have already turned the page.
The team is now led by Ben Johnson, whose arrival has brought a renewed focus and optimism around the franchise. Chicago’s priorities have shifted toward building a long-term offensive identity and creating stability for the future.
That transition effectively closed the Eberflus chapter in Chicago. For the coach himself, however, the next phase is only beginning.
A different environment in San Francisco
San Francisco offers a very different environment. The 49ers remain one of the most competitive teams in the NFC and continue to operate with one of the league’s most stable leadership groups.
For a coach trying to regain momentum in his career, that setting matters. Eberflus will likely contribute to defensive preparation, film analysis and player development as part of Morris’ staff. Those responsibilities often play to the strengths of veteran defensive coaches.
As one league analyst described the situation, “Experienced defensive assistants often influence game planning more than people realize.”
If the partnership works, the move could quietly help restore Eberflus’ standing across the league.
In the NFL, coaching reputations can shift quickly. One successful season inside the right organization can change the narrative.
For Matt Eberflus, that next opportunity now begins in San Francisco.
Sources: Reporting from ESPN journalist Nick Wagoner, publicly available NFL coaching records, and defensive ranking data from the Indianapolis Colts (2018-2021) during Matt Eberflus’ tenure as defensive coordinator.
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