The Chicago Bears have a decision to make after the 2023 season. 

Do they keep Matt Eberflus as the franchise's head coach or do they go in a new direction? 

Eberflus went 3-14 in 2022 in his first season as the Bears' head coach (which was his first season as an NFL head coach). So far this season, Chicago is 5-8 and they've won three of their last four games. 

It seems like Chicago is starting to find its groove a bit now that quarterback Justin Fields, who has missed four games this season, seems to be healthy. 

The Bears' recent performance and the fact that they didn't mail it in after a tough start to the season is a positive sign for Eberflus. 

What's even more positive, however, is a comment that Chicago defensive lineman Montez Sweat, a recent addition to the roster via a trade with the Washington Commanders, made about Eberflus this week. 

"Coach Flus is a great coach," said Sweat (via ESPN). "He keeps us motivated."

That's a simple comment from Sweat, but it's incredibly important. 

Keeping players motivated might be the most critical job of a head coach. 

Everyone in the NFL is running a variation of the same plays. There are different systems, but there aren't many new wrinkles that are showing up on a weekly basis. Everyone in the NFL is smart and everyone has talent. That's why there's so much parity. 

Keeping players motivated, however, is what can ultimately change seasons. And that can be tough to do over a 17 game slate. It's even tougher when a coach is asked to keep a team motivated that likely isn't going to the playoffs. 

The fact that Eberflus is excelling in this area is impressive. And it's why he should keep his job as the Bears' head coach. 

Chicago's roster needs to improve. They need to figure out if Fields is the guy or if they should draft a quarterback. But Eberflus should get the chance to continue on as Chicago's head coach in either of those scenarios. 

Hiring a new NFL coach is always a gamble. There aren't many guarantees. The Bears currently have a coach that's a good fit in Chicago and he knows how to get the most out of his players. Give him some more time and give him some more weapons. That's a better option than a complete reset that has no guarantee of success. 

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