The Chicago Bears faced criticism following their Hail Mary loss to the Washington Commanders, with quarterback Caleb Williams revealing in an interview with Esquire that the team was "annoyed" by former coach Matt Eberflus' handling of the game. The Bears were leading 15-12 before the Commanders scored a last-second touchdown, leading to their eventual defeat and a nine-game losing streak.
Eberflus faced questions about the team's defensive decisions during the Hail Mary play, with cornerback Tyrique Stevenson's positioning coming under scrutiny after a video showed him taunting fans before the play. The Bears continued to struggle throughout the season, culminating in another controversial end-of-game sequence on Thanksgiving. Eberflus was fired following the team's poor performance, and Williams expressed emotional exhaustion after his rookie season.
Looking ahead to his second year, Williams aims for improvement amidst the team's struggles. The Bears made changes by hiring offensive coach Ben Johnson, with hopes of better late-game management and overall performance to address player and fan frustrations.