Chicago Bears

Chicago Bears head coach Matt Eberflus was fired the day after his team's Thanksgiving Day loss to the Detroit Lions, according to NFL Network's Tom Pelissero.

Offensive coordinator Thomas Brown will serve as interim head coach, per ESPN's Adam Schefter.

The #Bears fired Matt Eberflus, per sources. pic.twitter.com/NRlHDdDErL

— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) November 29, 2024

The move marked the first time the Bears have ever fired a coach in the middle of a season, per ESPN's Adam Schefter.

Black Friday: For the first time in the 100-plus year history of the franchise, the Chicago Bears have made an in-season head-coaching change, firing Matt Eberflus.

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) November 29, 2024

The news broke hours after Eberflus said he was "confident" he would be coaching in Week 14 during a 9am Zoom call with reporters.

The Bears really made Matt Eberflus do a 9 AM Zoom conference and then fired him.

Honestly hilarious but total Bears.

— Dave (@dave_bfr) November 29, 2024

The Bears had come within range of a tying field goal on Thursday when rookie quarterback Caleb Williams was sacked on the final drive with just over 30 seconds remaining. Neither Eberflus nor Williams called a timeout, and the clock expired on an incomplete pass.

The Week 13 result, which marked the latest in a series of close losses this season, led Bears fans to celebrate the head coaching change.

The Bears have finally done it. Matt Eberflus is done as the Bears HC. Huge opportunity for Thomas Brown. Will be very excited to see how the next few weeks go. This next hire is everything for Poles and this franchise! #BearDown pic.twitter.com/fdcsozB02q

— Storm Hauser (@HauserStorm) November 29, 2024

Me after hearing the Bears finally fired Matt Eberflus pic.twitter.com/XCQgIXx4sU

— Tommy Ruffolo (@tommyruffolo) November 29, 2024

Eberflus should have been fired after the Patriots game but after what happened yesterday the Bears truly had no choice

— Kenny Levine (@kenny_levine) November 29, 2024

https://twitter.com/CoveysBurner/status/1862560667909107840

I’m still slightly upset that the Bears waited until they were out of the playoffs to fire Eberflus. Everyone knew he was a problem and maybe they could’ve saved the season having done it sooner.

— Niko Sorenson (Save Us Kyle Tucker) (@nsorenso14) November 29, 2024

The news also led to speculation that Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson will eventually be hired as Eberflus' replacement.

https://twitter.com/DanRCohen14/status/1862549186719154199

Ben Johnson is the Bears head coach next year, unless somebody offers him too much money for him to turn down somewhere else #NFL

— Shawn™️ (@SOfford72) November 29, 2024

https://twitter.com/KJChiFan18/status/1862549094238945417

The #Bears need to push their chips all in on Ben Johnson.

I don’t care if he’s expensive. He’s a proven elite offensive play caller at the NFL level.

This is the move you need to make if you want to maximize Caleb Williams.

— Jacob Infante (@jacobinfante24) November 29, 2024

Eberflus led the Bears to a 4-8 record in his third season as the team's head coach.

Prior to taking his first NFL head coaching role with the Bears, Eberflus had served as the Indianapolis Colts defensive coordinator for four seasons.

Eberflus led the Bears to a 10-24 overall record through his first two seasons with the team. Since selecting Caleb Williams at the top of the 2024 draft, the Bears have gone 4-8 and lost six straight games.

Ryan Poles remains in place as the Bears' general manager following Eberflus' firing, according to a statement from the team.

Matt Eberfluss is a really good defensive coordinator and will have no shortage of opportunities in that role but it was bizarre that Pace didn't use the selection of Williams as an opportunity to rebuild a coaching staff.

— Jared Sandler (@JaredSandler) November 29, 2024

This is ALL on Ryan Poles. The signs were all there and you knew who Eberflus was. Should’ve gone with a new HC back in January, but instead extensively searched for an OC and landed on Waldron. #DaBears

— Ben Devine (@Chicago_NFL) November 29, 2024

will be interesting to see what happens with Ryan Poles.

Well respected but two of the three biggest decisions he’s made were to hire Matt Eberflus and stand on the table by all accounts to make sure Eberflus was back this season

— Gregg Rosenthal (@greggrosenthal) November 29, 2024

I’m so confused over Ryan Poles.

Under his watch, the #Bears have fired 3 coordinators, numerous assistants and now a head coach.
He could’ve prevented a lot of this last offseason. We knew it, why didn’t he?

But…he’s the 1st to get the QB.

— Silvy (@WaddleandSilvy) November 29, 2024

Matt Eberflus didn’t belong as head coach to start this season. It’s sad that the Bears had to lose six consecutive games to make the right decision.

I’m just glad we are finally moving forward from his ineptitude and inability to lead a talented team to victory.

🐻⬇️ Forever

— Noah Adamany (@NoahAdamany) November 29, 2024

Eberflus' dismissal came after Williams indicated to reporters after the game that he did not feel comfortable calling a timeout late in the loss to the Lions without speaking to coaches.

"In that situation, I'm living with the call and letting coaches make that decision," Williams said.

Eberflus then said during his Monday press conference that he was hoping to call a timeout at "15 to 10 seconds" but didn't get the opportunity.

His inability to set up his team for at least a game-tying field goal marked the Bears' sixth straight loss, continuing a streak that began on Oct. 27 when a Hail Mary touchdown pass from Jayden Daniels bounced off Bears defenders hands and ensured a Washington Commanders win.

Bears fans are now ready to move on with Brown in the interim position as the team prepares to take on the San Francisco 49ers.

If he wins the next two games, hire him full time

— Russell Langan (@Russbus_18) November 29, 2024

In a span of 18 days, Thomas Brown has been promoted from passing game coordinator to offensive coordinator to interim head coach by the Bears.

It felt so unlikely to me, but as a team contact just said, the team must view him as a real head coach candidate.

— Adam Jahns (@adamjahns) November 29, 2024

I'm happy that Thomas Brown was given this opportunity to lead the Bears for the last five games. He's done a great job changing the offense and getting Caleb Williams to find his rhythm in just a short time.
.
Maybe he gets a look at the permanent job with a strong finish. pic.twitter.com/nBGvTOInEY

— Larry Hawley (@HawleySports) November 29, 2024

The Bears and 49ers kick off their Week 14 matchup in San Francisco on Sunday, Dec. 8.

Chicago Bears wide receiver summed things up for his team following Thursday's 23-20 loss to the Detroit Lions.

Moore told reporters the team has "s--t the bed" when presented with chances to win close games this season:

"We just s**t the bed."

DJ Moore on losing another close game. pic.twitter.com/9g09WLRORU

— Marquee Sports Network (@WatchMarquee) November 28, 2024

It seemed like the Bears might stun the NFL world with a late comeback against the 11-1 Lions when Caleb Williams drove them into scoring position in the final minute. However, he took a sack with 32 seconds left to knock them out of field-goal range.

Rather than call his team's last timeout, head coach Matt Eberflus watched the clock tick down as the offense struggled to get into position. Chicago didn't snap it until there were just a handful of seconds left, which meant Williams had to throw a pass to the end zone that fell incomplete.

BEARS DIDN'T CALL A TIMEOUT 😳

(via @NFL)
pic.twitter.com/OpmDcsr0Zs

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) November 28, 2024

This is nothing new for the 2024 Bears, who also lost on a Hail Mary on the final play against the Washington Commanders and a blocked field goal on the final play against the Green Bay Packers. They also lost in overtime against the Minnesota Vikings, meaning they have four losses on the final play of games this season alone.

The Hail Mary was largely a coaching problem, as Chicago didn't guard the sidelines on the penultimate play to allow the Commanders to get into position to throw it. It also didn't call a timeout to settle things down before the Hail Mary and chose not to bring pressure, so the receivers had nothing but time to get to the end zone.

As for the Packers loss, Williams moved Chicago into position to kick the game-winning field goal.

Yet Eberflus chose not to run any more plays with a timeout in the final 30 seconds and settled for a 46-yard field goal, which was blocked.

It has been a season to forget for Eberflus and the Bears, especially since they have been so close to breaking through in these close losses.

Caleb Williams was not a fan of the hit he took from Detroit Lions linebacker Jack Campbell.

The Chicago Bears quarterback took the hit in the third quarter and would eventually head to the blue medical tent. He did return to the game but reflected postgame about how "funky" the play was.

"Um, knee's fine," Williams told reporters, via Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk. "Yeah, I—that play was funky. Just put it that way. I don't really—you know, I didn't really appreciate the play. He just kind of dove straight at my knee. So I didn't really get that. Definitely kind of frustrated about that one, just 'cause you know, whatever. Yeah, knee's good. Nothing wrong with it. Think I just got a bruise. But the play was—the play was funky."

The Bears lost the game, 23-20, and dropped their sixth consecutive game. Williams went 20-of-39 for 256 yards and three touchdowns in the game and is now up to 2,612 yards with 14 touchdowns and five touchdowns on the season.

Losing Williams would have been a tough blow to a Bears team that is already struggling, so him rebounding quickly from the play was a positive sign. Still, the six-game skid has been troubling for the talented team and while Williams has been efficient, he hasn't been able to elevate the team to some victories.

Williams will get another crack at Campbell and the Lions on Dec. 22 and surely the rookie will look to avoid the linebacker if a similar situation arises.

Following the Chicago Bears' 23-20 road loss to the Detroit Lions on Thanksgiving Day, rookie quarterback Caleb Williams explained what happened during a chaotic, late-game sequence that ended his team's hopes of completing a second-half comeback.

Williams was sacked with just over 30 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter, taking the Bears to the edge of field-goal range. Rather than calling their final timeout or running a quick play, they allowed the clock to run all the way down, and the game was over after a deep pass fell incomplete:

BEARS DIDN'T CALL A TIMEOUT 😳

(via @NFL)
pic.twitter.com/OpmDcsr0Zs

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) November 28, 2024

According to Chris Emma of 670 The Score, Williams indicated he was not comfortable calling a timeout in that situation and left it up to the coaches, saying: "I'm trying to make a play for the Chicago Bears."

Per ESPN's Courtney Cronin, Williams added: "In that situation, I'm living with the call and letting coaches make that decision. … Maybe in the later years of my career [he may call a timeout himself], right now I get the call and I'm trying to lead my team to a win."

On the final drive of the game, Williams got Chicago down to the Detroit 25-yard line, putting the Bears in ideal position for a game-tying field goal that likely would have forced overtime.

However, an illegal use of hands penalty on offensive lineman Teven Jenkins pushed the ball back to the 35-yard line, and Williams was then sacked for a loss of six on second down.

Since it was third down, the signal-caller had plenty of options coming out of the sack, including calling a timeout or even spiking the ball to set up a lengthy field goal.

Instead, Williams spent an inordinate amount of time at the line with the clock running, and he conceded after the game that he was changing the play.

The lack of urgency came back to haunt the Bears since there was only time for one play by the time they got the ball snapped.

The late-game blunder overshadowed a strong effort by Williams, who threw for 256 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions. All three of his touchdowns came in the second half after Chicago trailed 16-0 at halftime.

Williams, who was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 NFL draft, made big throw after big throw in the second half against a Lions team that moved to a league-best 11-1 on the season with the win, and he was the biggest reason why they were still in it at the end.

While this year's No. 1 pick likely should have took it upon himself to call the timeout when it became clear it wasn't going to be called by anyone else, the blame should perhaps fall more on the shoulders of Chicago head coach Matt Eberflus than anyone else.

The Bears have now lost six games in a row following a 4-2 start, and Eberflus' inability to give his team a chance to complete what would have been a spectacular second-half comeback could end up costing him his job.

Thursday was another game and another questionable coaching performance for the Chicago Bears, and Keenan Allen wasn't about to take responsibility for it on behalf of his teammates.

"I feel like we did enough as players to win the game," he told reporters after a 23-20 loss to the Detroit Lions.

Chicago was driving into position to potentially win the game on the final possession, but Caleb Williams took a sack with 32 seconds remaining. Head coach Matt Eberflus didn't call the team's final timeout and watched as the offense failed to snap the ball until there were merely seconds remaining.

That meant Williams had to throw up a desperation pass at the end, which fell incomplete.

BEARS DIDN'T CALL A TIMEOUT 😳

(via @NFL)
pic.twitter.com/OpmDcsr0Zs

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) November 28, 2024

"You got to talk to the people who control those things," Allen said of possibly calling timeout. "I hear the play, line up and run the play. I don't know."

Williams, who is a rookie, echoed Allen's sentiments when he told reporters, "In that situation, I'm living with the call and letting coaches make that decision … maybe in the later years of my career (he may call a timeout himself), right now I get the call and I'm trying to lead my team to a win."

It seemed like the Bears were going to get blown out when they managed just two first downs in the entire first half and went into intermission with a 16-0 deficit. Yet they closed the gap to 23-7 after three quarters but pulled within three with touchdown passes from Williams to Allen and DJ Moore.

The good news for Chicago is Williams impressed while throwing for 256 yards, three touchdowns and zero interceptions and running for 39 more yards. He was much better in the second half than the first and now has five touchdowns to zero interceptions in the last two games.

However, the bad news for Chicago is Eberflus is still the head coach after yet another questionable performance.

This is the same team that lost to the Washington Commanders and Green Bay Packers on the final play of each game in part because of poor coaching. Against the Commanders, the Bears decided not to guard the sidelines on the penultimate play, which gave the NFC East team an easy completion to set up what proved to be the winning Hail Mary.

They also didn't bring any pressure on the Hail Mary, allowing the receivers to get downfield for the shocking play.

It also didn't help the Bears' case that they gave a goal-line handoff to a backup offensive lineman just to watch him fumble earlier in that game, although then-offensive coordinator Shane Waldron has since been fired.

As for the Packers game, Williams moved them into range to kick the game-winning field goal in the final minute. Yet Eberflus decided against running another play with a timeout in the final 30 seconds and settled for a 46-yard field goal, which was promptly blocked.

The mistakes continue piling up for Eberflus, and it has reached the point where it would be surprising if he was still the head coach next season.

Thursday was another winnable game where he didn't put his team in the best position to win, which once again led to more questions about his overall status.

Chicago Bears head coach Matt Eberflus has an explanation for the clock management at the end of the team's 23-20 Thanksgiving Day loss to the Detroit Lions.

The Bears had an opportunity to tie or win the game in the final minute but blew through the final 34 seconds and only got a single incomplete pass-off. During his postgame press conference, Eberflus told reporters that the play was to snap the ball at 18 seconds, use a timeout and then kick a field goal.

He pointed to the team needing to work together more efficiently as the issue.

#Bears coach Matt Eberflus on the final sequence: The hope was to re-rack the play, snap the ball at 18 seconds, throw in-bounds, call timeout and then kick the field goal. Still likes how they handled it. “We’ve just got to do a better job together.”

pic.twitter.com/uYGPCsUifw

— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) November 28, 2024

Postgame press conferences are now live. https://t.co/e2HQomF5qU

— Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears) November 28, 2024

"I think we handled it the right way," the Bears coach told reporters (2:30). "I do believe that we just re-rack the play, get it in bounds and call a timeout. That's why we called it, it just didn't work out the way we wanted it to."

Around the 5:18 mark, Eberflus said the accountability starts with him and he has to be better.

The Bears were facing third-and-26 at the Lions' 41-yard line with 34 seconds left following a Williams sack. They did have a timeout remaining but were hoping to get some additional yards to help kicker Cairo Santos' chances at hitting the game-tying field goal.

BEARS DIDN'T CALL A TIMEOUT 😳

(via @NFL)
pic.twitter.com/OpmDcsr0Zs

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) November 28, 2024

Instead, though, Chicago lost a sixth consecutive game and fell to 4-8 on the season.

The end-of-game sequence baffled many on social media.

Eberflus not realizing they didn’t have a timeout needs to be the final moment of his coaching career with the Bears.

— nick wright (@getnickwright) November 28, 2024

What in the absolute world was that by the Bears?!?

The end of game management by them multiple times this year is absolutely BAFFLING.

— JJ Watt (@JJWatt) November 28, 2024

Caleb Williams was sacked with 32 seconds left on the clock.

The Bears ran 1 more play before the game ended.

And walk back into the locker room with a timeout in their back pocket.

— Field Yates (@FieldYates) November 28, 2024

Williams finished 20-of-39 for 256 yards and three touchdowns, but the final play will likely overshadow any positive play from the day. It also was another knock against Eberflus, who has not done much to improve his job security heading into next season.

Chicago will hope the extra rest after the Thursday game can help them reset in time for Week 14 when they take on the San Francisco 49ers.

Despite a strong second-half showing from quarterback Caleb Williams, the Chicago Bears dropped their sixth game in a row Thursday, falling 23-20 to the NFC North rival Detroit Lions at Ford Field in Detroit on Thanksgiving Day.

After a sack pushed the Bears to the edge of field goal range with about 30 seconds remaining in the game, the Bears shockingly didn't use their timeout, and the game ended on a long incompletion.

BEARS DIDN'T CALL A TIMEOUT 😳

(via @NFL)
pic.twitter.com/OpmDcsr0Zs

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) November 28, 2024

Williams threw three second-half touchdown passes, plus he set a new single-season rookie record in the loss, going 212 consecutive pass attempts without an interception, which bettered the previous record of 211 held by Kyler Murray:

🚨 New record 🚨 pic.twitter.com/6lgj7Eq6Ng

— Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears) November 28, 2024

Williams helped stage a second-half comeback attempt, throwing a pair of touchdown passes to veteran wide receiver Keenan Allen and a third score to D.J. Moore after going into halftime down 16-0, but it wasn't enough to take down a Lions team that improved to an NFL-best 11-1.

A slow start ultimately doomed the Bears, as they had just 53 total yards of offense and a time of possession of 7:06 in the first half.

Football fans and analysts trolled the Bears for their poor first half and the unthinkable manner in which Thursday's game ended after a sixth consecutive loss dropped them to 4-8 on the year:

Shaboozey on the field longer than the Bears offense is CRAZY 💀

(via @jjones9) pic.twitter.com/LAPVsn0KEZ

— FanDuel Sportsbook (@FDSportsbook) November 28, 2024

Let's see if the Bears can get more yards than Shaboozey in the 2nd half 🫡 pic.twitter.com/GJFAucwSF7

— FanDuel (@FanDuel) November 28, 2024

SHABOOZEY LITERALLY SPENT MORE TIME ON THE FIELD THAN THE #BEARS OFFENSE.

💀💀💀

* His songs lasted a little over 6 minutes.

(📸via @Dav1dChabot) pic.twitter.com/qvko17YkQp

— MLFootball (@_MLFootball) November 28, 2024

https://twitter.com/RealKrisAbbott/status/1862214077562409467

WATCHING THE BEARS FINAL DRIVE ❓ pic.twitter.com/jREQZzamkk

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) November 28, 2024

The Bears man. What the hell were they doing? I feel bad for all my Chicago friends. Nobody deserves to root for a team like that. Unreal

— Dave Portnoy (@stoolpresidente) November 28, 2024

Eberflus not realizing they didn’t have a timeout needs to be the final moment of his coaching career with the Bears.

— nick wright (@getnickwright) November 28, 2024

WTF was that Bears? Use your final timeout after the sack. You still have 34 secs left. Situational football by hd coach is awful

— shannon sharpe (@ShannonSharpe) November 28, 2024

What in the absolute world was that by the Bears?!?

The end of game management by them multiple times this year is absolutely BAFFLING.

— JJ Watt (@JJWatt) November 28, 2024

Caleb Williams was sacked with 32 seconds left on the clock.

The Bears ran 1 more play before the game ended.

And walk back into the locker room with a timeout in their back pocket.

— Field Yates (@FieldYates) November 28, 2024

The Bears when it comes to losing close games in the most embarrassing ways possible pic.twitter.com/kb5Qp6h9os

— GhettoGronk (@TheGhettoGronk) November 28, 2024

If not for their inability to cash in on their first-half red zone trips, the Lions may have been able to put the Bears away in the first half.

Instead, they had to settle for three field goals, plus they lost a fumble in the red zone, and their only touchdown over the first 30 minutes was a three-yard pass from quarterback Jared Goff to tight end Sam Laporta:

Goff to LaPorta for a Thanksgiving tuddy! 🦃

📺: #CHIvsDET on CBS/Paramount+
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/tcGqUrCowX

— NFL (@NFL) November 28, 2024

The Bears showed signs of life on the first drive of the second half with Williams hitting Allen for a 31-yard touchdown to give them their first points of the day:

Caleb steps up in the pocket and throws a strike to Keenan for 6 🔥

📺: #CHIvsDET on CBS/Paramount+
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/PcoqjgG4yZ

— NFL (@NFL) November 28, 2024

However, the Lions answered on the next drive with LaPorta's second touchdown catch of the day from one yard out:

A second helping for LaPorta! 🦃🦃

📺: #CHIvsDET on CBS/Paramount+
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/OhCZYBGqT5

— NFL (@NFL) November 28, 2024

A third consecutive touchdown drive of the half was then authored by Williams, who hit Allen from nine yards out, although the Bears missed the two-point conversion, so they remained down by two scores:

Keenan with ANOTHER ONE.

📺: #CHIvsDET on CBS/Paramount+
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/cGU2l0zuTd

— NFL (@NFL) November 28, 2024

Williams drew the Bears even closer with 5:36 left in regulation, throwing his third touchdown pass of the day on a 31-yard throw to Moore:

An absolute dime from Caleb for his 3rd TD of the second half 🎯

📺: #CHIvsDET on CBS/Paramount+
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/LcNxYBryWU

— NFL (@NFL) November 28, 2024

Chicago forced a Detroit three-and-out on the next drive and had a chance to potentially tie the game or take the lead, but the game ended with Chicago's horrible clock management, calling Matt Eberflus' future as head coach further into question.

Although the season has gotten away from the Bears in terms of their record, Williams has shown flashes of brilliance in recent weeks and turned in another strong performance with 256 passing yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions on 20-of-39 passing, plus 39 rushing yards.

Even though a playoff berth is now unlikely this season, the Bears can perhaps rest assured that they have their franchise quarterback in the 2024 No. 1 overall draft pick.

As for the Lions, they have plenty to clean up before hosting the NFC North rival Green Bay Packers next Thursday, but their offense had a complete showing on Turkey Day as usual.

Goff threw for 221 yards, two touchdowns and no picks, while the running back duo of Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery combined for 175 rushing yards,

Chicago putting a scare into Detroit may prove to be the best thing for the Lions since it will force them to refocus ahead of a game against Green Bay that could have massive implications toward winning the division.

Meanwhile, the Bears will attempt to get back on track in their next game on Dec. 8 when they go on the road to face the struggling San Francisco 49ers.

Before the Chicago Bears and Detroit Lions matchup, star gymnast Simone Biles traveled by private jet to support her husband, Jonathan Owens, as he and the Bears played on Thanksgiving.

Simone Biles hops on private jet to Detroit to watch NFL husband Jonathan Owens play in Bears-Lions Thanksgiving game https://t.co/UbUQvRN1TJ

— Mail Sport (@MailSport) November 28, 2024

There's so many winners in Ford Field 🤸 Here's Olympic medalist and gymnast Simone Biles @Simone_Biles on the sidelines at Ford Field ahead of the Lions vs. Bears game in Detroit Thanksgiving Day. Photos by @MearsDaniel.

Live game updates: https://t.co/8rNNNuqRTU pic.twitter.com/VHVpp1OAzZ

— The Detroit News (@detroitnews) November 28, 2024

Simone Biles is in Detroit for Bears vs. Lions 🦃 pic.twitter.com/3Po2yLgasP

— Marquee Bears (@BearsMarquee) November 28, 2024

She was joined by tight end Marcedes Lewis' girlfriend, Torries Brown and the two toasted with mimosas on their way to the game.

Biles captioned her toast with, "Otw to Detroit for some Thanksgiving football," along with several football emojis.

Biles sported a white beanie and a Bears windbreaker to brave the chilly sub-40°F weather at Ford Field in Detroit. She also carried a clear bag showcasing her husband's name and jersey number.

The 27-year-old Olympic medalist is the most decorated gymnast in history, with a total of 11 Olympic medals—seven of them gold—and 30 World Championship medals, including 23 gold. This year, she earned four medals, three gold and one silver, for Team USA at the Paris Olympic Games.

Football fans took to social media to applaud rising country star Shaboozey's halftime performance during the Thanksgiving game between the Detroit Lions and Chicago Bears.

Several NFL fans and halftime viewers took to social media to praise Shaboozey after last year's performance by Jack Harlow fell short while also trolling the Bears' performance during the first half:

Shaboozey on the field longer than the Bears offense is CRAZY 💀

(via @jjones9) pic.twitter.com/LAPVsn0KEZ

— FanDuel Sportsbook (@FDSportsbook) November 28, 2024

First time I’m hearing Shaboozey’s music. I’m feeling it. pic.twitter.com/PcMl63Bdgn

— Big Chief Smitty (@AJSmitty94) November 28, 2024

This Shaboozey halftime show having us like 🤠 pic.twitter.com/4Qg3HtuWEu

— ESPN BET (@ESPNBET) November 28, 2024

Shaboozey’s set vs Jack Harlow’s set on Thanksgiving at the Lions stadium 😅#NFL #Thanksgiving #CHIvsDET pic.twitter.com/kZKoZgCWWt

— Riggs Tamburo (@RiggsSportsTalk) November 28, 2024

SHABOOZEY >>> JACK HARLOW

— MLFootball (@_MLFootball) November 28, 2024

Give me Shaboozey over Jack Harlow every day of the week#Thanksgiving pic.twitter.com/NM7dl1bERu

— RGF (@rgfray1) November 28, 2024

Total yards…
Bears: 5
Shaboozey: 7 pic.twitter.com/kpzGg03UzQ

— Cousin Sal (@TheCousinSal) November 28, 2024

https://twitter.com/RealKrisAbbott/status/1862214077562409467

Uhhhh yeah… Shaboozey fucking killed it

WHAT A SHOW @evanfoxy

— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) November 28, 2024

Buddy, you won’t be needed today.

Get off the damn field, we’re watching Shaboozey. pic.twitter.com/TSDF4cshok

— Eric Lloyd (@EricLloyd) November 28, 2024

If you don’t like this Shaboozey performance you don’t like music. Period. Crushed it. 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼

— Jane Slater (@SlaterNFL) November 28, 2024

SHABOOZEY LITERALLY SPENT MORE TIME ON THE FIELD THAN THE #BEARS OFFENSE.

💀💀💀

* His songs lasted a little over 6 minutes.

(📸via @Dav1dChabot) pic.twitter.com/qvko17YkQp

— MLFootball (@_MLFootball) November 28, 2024

Let's see if the Bears can get more yards than Shaboozey in the 2nd half 🫡 pic.twitter.com/GJFAucwSF7

— FanDuel (@FanDuel) November 28, 2024

After his performance, Shaboozey was on the field LONGER than the Bears offense. 😭

(🎥: @NFL)pic.twitter.com/LcPUpuydzC https://t.co/mlLZ6faqaP

— theScore (@theScore) November 28, 2024

The Bears gained just seven yards in the first half of Thursday's game, a stat that fans quickly noticed and joked about, pointing out that Shaboozey likely walked farther during his performance.

Entering halftime, the Lions held a 16-0 lead over the Lions, as Lions quarterback Jared Goff completed 14-of-24 passes for 145 yards and one touchdown. On the other end of the field, Caleb Williams completed 5-of-15 passes for 34 yards.

Despite the first-half outcome, all eyes were on Shaboozey as fans sung along to his hits "A Bar Song" and "Last of my Kind."

Chicago Bears head coach Matt Eberflus made an interesting choice to challenge a big play from the Minnesota Vikings in the third quarter of Sunday's loss.

On Monday, he broke down his decision, saying he felt it was worth challenging a big gain like the one on Sunday.

"I threw the challenge flag because it was explosive, 69 yards," he said. "...When it's explosive there we want to make sure that we want to throw that flag. I understand sideline, all that stuff, cameras, but they've done a good job with the replay assist team, coming in and working with that. I think it always warrants a challenge when you've got that big of a gain. If it was six yards I don't really care, if it was 15 yards, I don't care. But if it's 70 yards, it's worth it, even if we don't have the best look there."

“When that’s an explosive (play) … we want to throw that (challenge) flag.”

Matt Eberflus on challenging the 69-yard Jordan Addison play. pic.twitter.com/73ULLQdHKm

— Marquee Bears (@BearsMarquee) November 25, 2024

Jordan Addison bounces off a defender for a 69-yard gain!

📺: #MINvsCHI on FOX
📱: https://t.co/waVpO909ge pic.twitter.com/OVIYAQc3Rk

— NFL (@NFL) November 24, 2024

The decision from Eberflus to throw the challenge flag is a bit puzzling. If the call had been overturned, it may have taken some yards away after the catch but the Vikings would still have the ball and the chance to move down the field. The decisions also burned a timeout early in the second half.

Eberflus hasn't had the best luck with challenges. The one he lost on Sunday marked his fifth consecutive challenge that wasn't overturned.

The lost timeout came back to hurt the Bears in the third quarter when Eberflus and the offense were not on the same page during a crucial fourth down. Chicago had its special teams unit on the field with the offense when it intended to go for it on fourth down, and rather than using a second timeout, quarterback Caleb Williams had to get the snap off in a hurry and ultimately turned it over on downs and gave the ball back to Minnesota.

Despite a controversial choice from Eberflus, Chicago managed to force overtime against the Vikings but lost 30-27. The loss puts the Bears at 4-7 on the year while Minnesota improved to 9-2.