As the Chicago Bears prepared for their 2024 season opener against the Tennessee Titans with renewed optimism for the new year, head coach Matt Eberflus exuded confidence in the team’s blend of veteran experience and rookie talent. The atmosphere at Halas Hall throughout training camp has been electric, with newcomers like veteran wide receiver Keenan Allen, and sensations like first overall pick quarterback Caleb Williams and wide receiver Rome Odunze, injecting fresh energy into the team.
Williams has been focused on harnessing his offensive skills: “the initial thing is to learn the offense — the concepts and procedures,” Eberflus noted in an interview with the Spectator. Despite the pressure of being the NFL draft’s first overall pick, Williams is treated no differently than the other rookies. However, his position naturally provokes leadership, being named captain prior to their first regular season game.
Entering his third year with the Bears, Eberflus has established a team culture built around three core values: “Be on time, work extremely hard, and be respectful.” Eberflus stressed the importance of consistent performance. “Every week we have to go out and prove it. That’s what it’s like in the NFL. It’s a prove-it league and you’ve got to do it every week,” he said.
Looking ahead, Eberflus identified the team’s biggest challenge as “the ability to handle success and adversity.” The Bears look to overcome the obstacle that is the NFC North and put their offseason work to the test, including what Eberflus quips as, “always labor on Labor Day”.
Beyond the field, the Chicago Bears are dealing with the rollout of their debut season on “Hard Knocks,” with episodes premiering Tuesdays at 8pm EST. From the get go, this latest season was highly anticipated, continuing the iconic legacy of the Bears organization, with the fresh promise of growth and a stellar new roster.
Amidst the return of coaches and players to the Bears training facility in July, camera crews led by Shannon Furman began production for the show. From capturing humorous conversations between teammates about Love Island, to Ian Wheeler’s heartbreaking injury, the series truly exhibited the ups and downs of NFL football.
For the players and coaches, adapting to the camera crew’s presence was a unique experience. Despite their pervasive interaction in the team’s lives, Eberflus heavily praised the crews’ professionalism in their ability to not affect the atmosphere of the team.
When asked about how his players dealt with such exposure, he stated that once he heard the news, he informed his team right away, telling them, “Be authentic, be yourselves. You’re all great guys, you all have great stories to tell. ” This was followed by a reminder to “ keep the main thing the main thing,” which, in every single player’s case, was prepping for their season opener.
