The 2024 season was the Chicago Bears' 105th in the National Football League (NFL), their third under general manager Ryan Poles, and their third and final under head coach Matt Eberflus. It was also their final season under the ownership of Virginia Halas McCaskey, who died one month after the season ended. The Bears were unable to improve on their 7–10 record from 2023 following a Week 15 loss to the Minnesota Vikings on Monday Night Football. The team was featured during the training camp edition of the HBO show Hard Knocks.
Despite a 4–2 start, their best since 2020, the Bears went on to lose 10 consecutive games, tying the franchise record set in 2022, with their first being against the Washington Commanders in the Hail Maryland game. In the last play of the game, a 52-yard Hail Mary pass that was tipped in the air by cornerback Tyrique Stevenson, who was caught taunting fans during the play, was caught in the endzone by Commanders wide receiver Noah Brown. The Bears suffered close consecutive losses to each of their division rivals, starting with the Green Bay Packers' Karl Brooks blocking a potential game-winning field goal in Week 11. In Week 12, the Bears rallied from an 11-point deficit in the last two minutes of regulation to force overtime against the Minnesota Vikings, only to lose despite winning the coin toss. On Thanksgiving Day, the Bears fell to a 4–8 record following a 23–20 loss to the Detroit Lions. Eberflus was widely criticized for his clock management in the final seconds of the game and was fired the next day, making him the first head coach to be fired midseason in the team's over century-old history. In Week 14, with Thomas Brown at interim head coach, the Bears lost against the San Francisco 49ers, ensuring a last-place finish in the division for the third straight season. Following the Commanders beating the New Orleans Saints in Week 15, the Bears were eliminated from playoff contention for the fourth consecutive season. They snapped their losing streak in the final week of the season with a 24–22 win over the Packers, their first win over their division rival since the 2018 season. Caleb Williams became the first Bears quarterback to start every game in a season since Jay Cutler did so in 2009.
Offseason Staff changes On January 10, 2024, the Bears announced that they fired offensive coordinator Luke Getsy and four others offensive assistants. On January 23, 2024, Shane Waldron was hired as the new offensive coordinator, while Kerry Joseph was announced as the Quarterbacks coach three days later. On January 27, 2024, Eric Washington was named the defensive coordinator.
On February 21, 2024, the Bears announced the hiring of additional six coaches: offensive passing game coordinator Thomas Brown, running backs coach Chad Morton, receivers coach Chris Beatty, assistant offensive line coach Jason Houghtaling, assistant quarterbacks and receivers coach Robbie Picazo and assistant running backs coach Jennifer King. King would make history, as the first female coach in Bears history. Chavis Cook was hired as the coaching administration manager. On February 23, the Bears added Ryan Griffin as assistant quarterbacks and receivers coach and Bryan Bing as assistant defensive line coach. On February 26, Matt Pees was added as defensive analyst-advance/special projects.
In addition, three other coaches were promoted: Offensive line coach Chris Morgan promoted to run game coordinator; assistant defensive backs coach, David Overstreet II to Nickelbacks coach and administrative coaching assistant, Kenny Norton III to defensive quality control coach.
Chicago Bears Staff Changes Coach Position Reason left Replacement(s) Cliff Stein Senior vice president/general counsel Fired - Sean Magee Coaching chief of staff Accepted job at the University of Michigan Chavis Cook(Coaching administration manager) Luke Getsy Offensive coordinator Fired(Later accepted job with Las Vegas Raiders) Shane Waldron Alan Williams Defensive coordinator Resigned mid-season Eric Washington Tyke Tolbert Passing game coordinator/wide receivers coach Fired(Later accepted job with Tennessee Titans) Thomas Brown (Passing game coordinator)Chris Beatty (Wide receivers coach) Phil Snow Senior defensive analyst Contract expired Matt Pees(Defensive analyst-advance/special projects) Andrew Janocko Quarterbacks coach Fired(Later accepted job with New Orleans Saints) Kerry Joseph Omar Young Interim running backs coach/ assistant quarterbacks coach Fired Chad Morton (Running backs coach)Robbie Picazo & Ryan Griffin (Assistant quarterbacks/wide receivers) Luke Steckel Assistant offensive line coach Accepted job with Las Vegas Raiders Jason Houghtaling Tim Zetts Assistant tight ends coach Fired -Assistant running backs Jennifer King Justin Hinds Assistant defensive line Accepted job with the Seattle Seahawks Bryan Bing
Bill Walsh Diversity coaches The Bears added six coaches from the NFL's Bill Walsh Diversity Coaching Fellowship Program: Michael Bellamy II (assistant wide receivers/senior offensive analyst/special teams assistant, Howard), Stefon Wheeler (run game coordinator/offensive line coach, Yale), Angela Rowe (head flag football coach, Huntingdon College), Michael Bearden (assistant wide receivers graduate assistant, Notre Dame), Yosef Fares (head coach, Justin Garza High School) and Anthony Blevins (defensive assistant, Birmingham Stallions).
Roster changes
Free agents PositionPlayer2024 teamDate signedContract OLB Dylan Cole UFA OG Dan Feeney UFAMinnesota VikingsMarch 15, 20241 year, $3.5 million RB D'Onta Foreman UFACleveland BrownsMarch 20, 20241 year, $1.125 million DE Rasheem Green UFA CB Jaylon Johnson UFA Chicago Bears March 11, 2024 4 year, $76 million DT Justin Jones UFA Arizona Cardinals March 14, 2024 3 year, $30 million TE Marcedes Lewis UFA Chicago Bears June 9, 2024 1 year, TBA WR Darnell Mooney UFA Atlanta Falcons March 15, 2024 3 year, $39 million DE Yannick Ngakoue UFA C Lucas Patrick UFANew Orleans Saints May 12, 2024 1 year, minimum QB Nathan Peterman UFA New Orleans Saints March 18, 2024 1 year, minimum LS Patrick Scales UFAChicago BearsMarch 10, 2024 1 year, $1 million WR Equanimeous St. Brown UFA New Orleans SaintsApril 12, 20241 year, TBA CB Greg Stroman UFAChicago Bears 1 year, minimum WR/PR Trent Taylor UFASan Francisco 49ersApril 16, 20241 year, TBA TE Robert Tonyan UFAMinnesota VikingsMay 16, 20241 year, TBA WR Collin Johnson RFAChicago BearsMarch 8, 2024 1 year, minimum CB Josh Blackwell ERFA Chicago Bears March 13, 2024 1 year, minimum WR Joe Reed ERFA RFA: Restricted free agent, UFA: Unrestricted free agent, ERFA: Exclusive rights free agent LEGEND Light green background indicates a player has been re-signed by the Bears. Light red background indicates a player has departed the Bears.
Signings PositionPlayerPrevious teamDate signedContract FS Tarvarius Moore Green Bay Packers March 8, 2024 1 year, minimum FS Kevin Byard Philadelphia Eagles March 10, 2024 2 year, $15 million RB D'Andre Swift Philadelphia Eagles March 13, 2024 3 year, $24 million TE Gerald Everett Los Angeles Chargers March 13, 2024 2 year, $12 million SS Jonathan Owens Green Bay Packers March 13, 2024 2 year, $4.5 million OT Matt Pryor San Francisco 49ers March 13, 2024 1 year, $1 million QB Brett Rypien New York Jets March 13, 2024 1 year, minimum LB Amen Ogbongbemiga Los Angeles Chargers March 14, 2024 1 year, $2.1 million C Coleman Shelton Los Angeles Rams March 15, 2024 1 year, $3.5 million WR Dante Pettis - March 15, 2024 1 year, minimum DE Jacob Martin Indianapolis Colts March 16, 2024 1 year, minimum OT Jake Curhan Seattle Seahawks March 18, 2024 1 year, minimum DE Byron Cowart Miami Dolphins March 18, 2024 1 year, minimum
Reserve/future contracts The Bears signed the following players to reserve/future contracts: Micah Baskerville (LB), Stephen Carlson (TE), Jerome Carvin (G), Adrian Colbert (FS), Douglas Coleman III (SS), Aviante Collins (T), Michael Dwumfour (DT), Daniel Hardy (DE), Khalid Kareem (DE), Doug Kramer (C), Cameron Lyons (LS), Roy Mbaeteka (T), Bill Murray (G), Corliss Waitman (P) and Nsimba Webster (WR). Mbaeteka was later released.
Trade acquisitions PositionPlayerPrevious teamDate Traded away G/C Ryan Bates Buffalo Bills March 13, 2024 2024 fifth-round selection WR Keenan Allen Los Angeles Chargers March 14, 2024 2024 fourth-round selection DE Darrell Taylor Seattle Seahawks August 23, 2024 2025 sixth-round selection
Departures PositionPlayerReasonDate2024 teamNotes FS Eddie Jackson Released February 15, 2024 Baltimore Ravens G Cody Whitehair ReleasedFebruary 15, 2024Las Vegas Raiders QB Justin Fields Traded March 16, 2024 Pittsburgh Steelers Bears received conditional 2025 sixth-round selection (failed to convert to 4th as Fields played in less than 51% of the Steelers' snaps in 2024)
Draft
+ 2024 Chicago Bears draft selections Round Selection Player Position College Notes 1 1 Caleb Williams QB USC From Panthers 9 Rome Odunze WR Washington 2 40 Traded to the Washington Commanders 3 75 Kiran Amegadjie OT Yale 4 110 Traded to the Los Angeles Chargers 4 122 Tory Taylor P Iowa From Eagles 5 144 Austin Booker DE Kansas From Bears via Bills 6 184 Traded to the Miami Dolphins 7 231 Traded to the New England Patriots
+ 2024 Chicago Bears undrafted free agents Name Position College Ref. Brenden Bates TE Kentucky Theo Benedet OT UBC Carl Jones Jr. LB UCLA Jamree Kromah DE James Madison Peter LeBlanc WR Louisiana Keith Randolph Jr. DT Illinois Austin Reed QB Western Kentucky Reddy Steward CB Troy Ian Wheeler RB Howard Jaylon Hutchings DT Texas Tech
Draft trades
Rookie minicamp participants The following unsigned undrafted free agents participated in the Bears' rookie minicamp from May 9 to 11: LB Brian Abraham, Albany; OT Noah Atagi, Weber State; RB T. D. Ayo-Durojaiye, Villanova; DB Travian Blaylock, Wisconsin; DB Russell Dandy, Eastern Illinois; DT Mark Ho Ching, Northern Arizona; WR John Jackson, USC; DB Patrick Jolly, Abilene Christian; DB Leon Jones, Arkansas State; DT Dashaun Mallory, Arizona State; S Samuel Matthews, Texas A&M; DE John McCartan, Oregon State; LB Rich Miller Jr., Kansas; LB Paul Moala, Georgia Tech; WR R.J. Mobley, Winston-Salem; DB Decorian Patterson, UCF; DB Kendarin Ray, Tulsa; WR Marcus Rogers, Troy; OG David Satkowski, Stonehill; TE Geor'quarius Spivey, Mississippi State; OG Kameron Stutts, Auburn; OG Donald Ventrelli, North Dakota; TE Shelton Zeon, UNLV. Jackson, Jones, Mallory and Moala would later signed with the team.
Staff On November 12, 2024, the Bears fired offensive coordinator Shane Waldron, after only nine games, and appointed passing game coordinator Thomas Brown as the interim offensive coordinator. It was the first ever change in the middle of the season since Perry Moss became Chicago's first designated OC in 1970. On November 29, 2024 Head coach Matt Eberflus was fired amid six game losing streak, and the team appointed Brown as the first ever interim head coach in franchise history, just 17 days after being promoted to interim offensive coordinator. On December 2, 2024, wide receivers coach Chris Beatty was subsequently promoted to interim offensive coordinator under Brown.
Final roster
Preseason Schedule On March 26, the National Football League announced that the Bears would play the Houston Texans in the Pro Football Hall of Fame Game at 7:00 p.m. CDT on Thursday, August 1, at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton, Ohio. The Bears were represented by Devin Hester, Steve McMichael and Julius Peppers. The two teams were also scheduled to meet in Houston in Week 2 of the regular season.
Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Recap HOF vs. Houston Texans W 21–17 1–0 Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium Recap 1 at Buffalo Bills W 33–6 2–0 Highmark Stadium Recap 2 Cincinnati Bengals W 27–3 3–0 Soldier Field Recap 3 at Kansas City Chiefs W 34–21 4–0 Arrowhead Stadium Recap
Game summaries