Bears hire defensive whiz Matt Eberflus as head coach

The Bears hired Matt Eberflus to be the 17th head coach in franchise history yesterday.

• It's moments like these that you wish Harry Caray was still alive. "Eberflus said backwards is…"

Why it matters: Eberflus inherits a team that went 6-11 last year and is in dire need of a complete overhaul.

• New GM Ryan Poles, who was hired Tuesday, wasted no time in picking Eberflus over other candidates like Dan Quinn and Jim Caldwell.

Context: Eberflus is a defensive coach, most recently coordinating an Indianapolis Colts unit that was top 10 in points allowed this season.

• The Colts ran a 4-3 defense and the Bears currently run a 3-4.
• His defense is similar to the style that Lovie Smith and Brian Urlacher made famous in Chicago.

His specialty: Linebackers. Welcome to Chicago, coach.

The intrigue: This will be his first head coaching job. But players who have played for him have nothing but good things to say.

• The top item on his list: Developing rookie QB Justin Fields.
• The second: Beat the Packers and make the playoffs.
• The third: Getting Chicago to pronounce his name correctly. It's EEEE-burr-floose. Players call him "Flus."

What's next: Eberflus will have an official introductory press conference soon and will then get to work on hiring his staff.