
There had to have been some thought in Matt Eberflus’ mind as he drove home from Soldier Field after the final game last season that it would only get better from here. There’s no way the Bears could ever again be as bad as the team he just finished coaching to an NFL-worst 3-14.
It was January, and the teardown was finally over. The team had the No. 1 overall pick and a wealth of salary-cap space to assemble a legitimate roster. Like every Bears fan, he had to be thinking the worst was over and the future was bright.