Chicago Bears (Madden 24)

[cwadley]

I will be using this platform to journal my Madden 24 CFM. I will be starting the franchise as Phil Richart, the new head coach of the Chicago Bears.

All settings are stock except as stated below:

• Skill Level: All Madden
• Game Style: Simulation
• Quarter Length: 11 Minutes
• Min. Play Clock Time: 16
• Coach Firing: All
• Breakout Scenarios: Off
• Superstar Abilities: Off
• Ability Edit Controls: None

[cwadley]

Bears Fire HC Matt Eberflus, Hire HC Phil Richart
The Chicago Bears fired head coach Matt Eberflus following his second season. Eberflus won his coaching debut on September 11, 2022, as the Bears beat the San Francisco 49ers 19-10 in a come-from-behind victory. The Bears, however, struggled under Eberflus and won only two more games during the rest of 2022 season, which ended with a 10-game losing streak and last-place finish in the NFC North.

2023 started just as bad for Ebeflus, as the losing streak continued for another four games, or 14 straight losses in total, a franchise record. The Bears improved over the course of the season, ending with a 7-10 record, but still finished tied for last in the division.

Phil Richart has no prior NFL head coaching experience. Apparently, a selling point is that Richart has expressed a commitment to Justin Fields, who has shown flashes in his three years as the Bears starting QB, but has lacked consistency after being drafted 11th overall in the 2021 NFL Draft. When asked about Fields' future, Richart stated, "Justin is a special player. We are going to do everything we can to make sure he stays in Chicago and has the tools he needs to take win the Super Bowl with this team. We intend to play to his strengths and allow his natural talent to take over games for us."

The news that the Bears intend to stick with Fields quelled rumors that the Bears, who have the first overall pick in the draft, might trade Fields and draft a QB as an offensive reboot.

[cwadley]

49ERS DEFEAT CHIEFS IN SUPER BOWL LVIII
The 49ers defeated the Chiefs in Super Bowl LVIII by the score of 31 to 28, taking home the Lombardi Trophy for the sixth time in franchise history. QB Brock Purdy won MVP honors, completing 21 of 27 passes for 227 yards and two touchdowns.

[cwadley]

OFFSEASON - STAFF WEEK
Notable retirements:

• DE Cameron Jordan: Jordan, the Saints' first-round pick in the 2011 NFL Draft (11th overall), played 13 season in New Orleans. A member of the NFL 2010s All-Decade Team, Jordan is an eight-time Pro Bowler, a three-time All-Pro selection, and is the Saints' all-time franchise sack leader (117.5).
• OT Jason Peters: Peters signed with the Buffalo Bills as an undrafted free agent in 2004, originally as a tight end. He was later traded to the Philadelphia Eagles in 2009 and spent the next twelve seasons playing for them before joining the Chicago Bears in 2021, the Dallas Cowboys in 2022, and the Seahawks in 2023. Peters is also a member of the 2010s All-Decade Team, a nine-time Pro Bowler, and a seven-time All-Pro selection. Peters was a member of the Eagles 2017 Super Bowl championship team.
• CB Patrick Peterson: Peterson was selected fifth overall by the Arizona Cardinals in the first round of the 2011 NFL Draft. A member of the NFL 2010s All-Decade Team, Peterson was selected to the Pro Bowl in each of his first eight seasons in the NFL and was named to the All-Pro first-team on three occasions. Peterson spent 10 years with the Cardinals before stints with the Minnesota Vikings (2021-22) and Pittsburgh Steelers (2023) before retiring at the conclusion of the 2023 season.

BEARS HIRE NEW COACHING STAFF
The Chicago Bears replaced their coaching staff, replacing OC Glenn Powers and DC Cameron Kelly with OC Chris Roberts and DC Ron Rivera. Rivera played nine season in Chicago, from 1984 to 1992, as an outside linebacker, including the 1985 Super Bowl winning season. Rivera served as head coach for the Carolina Panthers from 2013 to 2019, when he was fired midway through the 2019 season, and became head coach of the Washington Redskins (now Commanders). The Commanders fired Rivera following the 2023 NFL season after the team went 4-13.

[cwadley]

The Chicago Bears re-sign:

• CB Jaylon Johnson (4 years / $52.8)
• WR Darnell Mooney (2 years / $13.2M)
• DE Rasheem Green (1 year / $3.5M)
• CB Josh Blackwell (1 year / $1.5M)

Bears pick up QB Justin Fields' fifth-year option (valued at $28.4M).

Bears do not re-sign HB D'Onta Foreman, WR Equanimeous St. Brown, WR Collin Johnson, DE Yannick Ngakoue, DT Justin Jones, TE Robert Tonyan, G Dan Feeney, OLB Dylan Cole, WR Trent Taylor, C Lucas Patrick, and QB Nathan Peterman.

Elsewhere:

1. Panthers franchise tag ROLB Brian Burns ($30.3M)
2. Raiders franchise tag HB Josh Jacobs ($16.5M)
3. Titans franchise tag HB Derrick Henry ($16.5M)
4. Vikings franchise tage OLB Danielle Hunter ($20.9M)
5. OT Tyron Smith (92 OVR) and CB L'Jarius Sneed (90 OVR) enter free agency

[cwadley]

Bears signings:

• WR Odell Beckham Jr. (2 years / $21.2M)
• TE Adam Trautman (2 years / $9.6M)
• HB Antonio Gibson (1 year / $3.3M)

Elsewhere:

• Lions sign OT Tyron Smith (92 OVR) (1 year / $21.9M)
• Broncos sign CB L'Jarius Sneed (90 OVR) (3 years / $55.6M)
• QB Baker Mayfield to the Patriots; QB Gardner Minshew II to the Raiders; and QB Sam Darnold to the Vikings
• Lions trade LT Taylor Decker to the Broncos for WR Jerry Jeudy, a sixth round pick in 2025, and a seventh round pick in 2026.

[cwadley]

Bears draft:

• 1-1: RE Raekwon Carter - Tennessee (77 OVR - Hidden)
• 1-9: RG Daniel Lopez - Auburn (81 OVR / Hidden)
• 3-3 SS M Barnes - TCU (74 OVR / Normal)
• 4-9 WR Larry Clayborn - Florida (70 OVR / Normal)
• 4-22 TE Johnny Stewart - Texas A&M (65 OVR / Normal)
• 5-9 OLB Phillip Tucker - Miami (63 OVR / Normal)

Top 5:

• 1: Bears - RE Raekwon Carter - Tennessee (77 OVR / Hidden)
• 2: Commanders - FS Ben Charles - UCLA (79 OVR / Hidden)
• 3: Patriots - OLB James Reynolds - Mississippi State (75 OVR / Hidden)
• 4: Cardinals - OLB Pat Wilson - Clemson (75 OVR / Hidden)
• 5: Chargers - OT Edward Archibald - Iowa (74 OVR / Hidden)

[cwadley]

The Bears had a disappointing preseason under new head coach Phil Richart, losing all three games: In week one, the Titans defeated the Bears 31-10. In week two, the Chiefs dominated 42-7. In week three, the Broncos squeaked past the Bears 13-10. When asked about his team's performance, Richart commented that the preseason was an "evaluative process" and that nothing counts, regarding wins and losses, until the regular season begins.

At the conclusion of the preseason, the Bears made the following roster cuts:

• CB Josh Blackwell: Blackwell was originally signed by the Eagles as an undrafted free agent in 2022 but was cut and claimed off waivers by the Bears. In his two seasons with the Bears, Blackwell played in 26 games (one start), posted 31 tackles (22 solo), forced two fumbles, and recovered one. Blackwell has been signed to the Bears practice squad.
• TE Stephen Carlson: Carlson signed with the Bears as a free agent in May 2023. Carlson was originally signed by the Browns (UDFA) out of Princeton University in May 2019. He completed 25 games (five starts) across two seasons with the Browns, in 2019 and 2020, but played only one snap (on special teams) for the Bears in 2023.
• SS Adrian Colbert: Colbert has played seven seasons in the NFL. Originally selected by the 49ers in the seventh round of the 2017 NFL Draft, Colbert has played in 41 games (22 starts) and compiled 109 tackles (84 solo), two forced fumbles, one fumble recovery, and eight passes defensed. Colbert was placed on the injured reserve during the 2023 season.
• DT Michael Dwumfour: Dwumfour was signed by the Jets as an UDFA before the 2021 season but was injured and released during the preseason. Dwumfour played for the Texans in 2021 and 2022, before being released by the Texans during the 2022 season and signed by the 49ers. The Bears signed Dwumfour to their practice squad during the 2023 season.
• FS Elijah Hicks: Hicks was drafted by the Bears in the seventh round of the 2022 NFL Draft. Hicks has played in 26 games for the Bears, with eight starts. He has recorded 51 tackles (28 solo) with one pass defense, one force fumble, and one fumble recovery. Hicks has been signed to the practice squad.
• DE Khalid Kareem: Kareem was selected by the Bengals in the fifth round of the 2020 NFL Draft. After two injury-plagued seasons in Cincinnati, Kareem was signed by the 2022 season and then claimed off waivers by the Bears before the 2023 season. Kareem played in only one game for the Bears, in Week 8 versus the Chargers. He posted 1 tackle and one pass deflection.
• WR Nsimba Webster: Webster was initially signed by the Rams in 2019 as an undrafted free agent. He has played in 29 games throughout his five NFL seasons with the Rams (2019-2020) and Bears (2021-23), although he spent 2023 on the Bears practice squad. Webster has posted 216 punt return yards and 404 kickoff return yards in his career. He last played in a regular season game in 2022, for the Bears, when he totaled two receptions for 14 yards versus the Eagles in Week 15.
• SS Kendall Williamson: Williamson was drafted by the Bears in the seventh round of the 2023 NFL Draft. He spent the year on the Bears practice squad and was signed to the practice squad again at the conclusion of the 2024 preseason.

Elsewhere, the Eagles waived DT Fletcher Cox. Cox was drafted by the Eagles in the first round of the 2012 NFL Draft. Cox was an integral member of the Eagles' 2017 Super Bowl-winning defense, and he helped the Eagles reach the Super Bowl again in 2022. Cox is a member of the NFL 2010s All-Decade Team and is one of only two DTs to produce 45+ sacks and 10+ FFs from 2010-19 (Aaron Donald being the other). Cox is a four-time All-Pro (2014-15 and 2017-18).