Bears’ Matt Eberflus says ‘extreme patience’ necessary in rebuild, but will he get it?

Eberflus’ Bears have gone 4-4 in their last eight games after 3-18 in his first 21 as coach. (AP Photos)

Striking the right balance between patience and urgency is one of the biggest challenges for an NFL coach or general manager, and that’s even harder here, where the Bears have been asking everyone to just hold on a little longer for most of the last four decades.

Matt Eberflus is a man of patience, evidenced by working 30 years as an assistant while he waited for this head-coaching opportunity, but the NFL is a world of high pressure and fast flips. Four teams that were near the bottom of the league last season now are .500 or better and in reach of a playoff spot.