The Chicago Bears fired offensive coordinator Shane Waldron on Tuesday in an effort to spark change in a unit that ranks among the worst in the NFL.
Offensive passing game coordinator Thomas Brown has been promoted to offensive coordinator.
The Chicago Bears fired offensive coordinator Shane Waldron on Tuesday in an attempt to revitalize a unit that is one of the worst in the NFL.
Coach Matt Eberflus mentioned on Monday that changes were coming following a 19-3 loss to New England at Soldier Field, though he wasn’t ready to announce them at the time. He also stated that the decision on whether to retain his offensive coordinator would be “mine alone.”
“After evaluating our entire operation, I decided that it is in the best interest of our team to move in a different direction with the leadership of our offense. This decision was well-thought-out, one that was conducted deliberately and respectfully,” Eberflus said Tuesday in a statement. “I would like to thank Shane for his efforts and wish him the best moving forward.”
“Thomas is a bright offensive mind who has experience calling plays with a collaborative mindset. I look forward to his leadership over our offensive coaching staff and his plan for our players,” Eberflus said.
Waldron lasted only nine games after being hired in January to replace Luke Getsy, who was let go following two seasons. Getsy was later hired as the Las Vegas Raiders’ offensive coordinator but was fired in November.
The Bears rank 30th in the NFL in total offense and 24th in scoring. Chicago has gone without a touchdown in back-to-back games for the first time since 2004. It’s been 23 consecutive possessions without a touchdown for the Bears since they scored in the final minute at Washington in Week 8, where they lost on a Hail Mary pass by Jayden Daniels. Quarterback Williams was sacked an astounding nine times against New England, which is tied with six other teams for the worst record in the NFL.
The offense has produced just two touchdowns in 34 drives over the three games since Chicago’s bye. Prior to the off week, the Bears won three straight, with Williams and the offense starting to find their rhythm, even though those victories came against struggling teams.
Williams completed 74% of his passes for 687 yards and seven touchdowns with one interception during the Bears’ three-game winning streak. However, in the past three games, the 2022 Heisman Trophy winner has struggled, completing just 48 of 95 passes without a touchdown.
Williams has frequently been under pressure behind an offensive line that has struggled and been plagued by injuries. At times, he has also held onto the ball too long instead of checking down or throwing it away to avoid a sack.
Meanwhile, Waldron seemed to abandon the run game in some contests and was urged by players to coach with more intensity after a loss to Indianapolis in Week 3.
The Bears went on a winning streak and entered their bye with a 4-2 record. However, they’ve struggled since then, and the schedule is set to get more challenging. Six of their final eight games are against NFC North opponents, starting with Green Bay’s visit on Sunday.
The recent struggles have increased the pressure on Eberflus, with fans chanting “Fire ‘Flus!” during the New England game. Chicago is 14-29 in his 2 1/2 seasons, a far cry from what the Bears had hoped for after improving from a 3-14 record in 2022 to 7-10 last year.
General manager Ryan Poles made significant changes to the offense in the offseason.
The Bears paved the way to draft Williams by trading Justin Fields to Pittsburgh. They also made a blockbuster move for a playmaking receiver for the second consecutive year, acquiring six-time Pro Bowler Keenan Allen from the Los Angeles Chargers after sending the No. 1 pick in 2023 to Carolina for DJ Moore. Chicago received the Panthers’ 2024 first-round pick in the deal for Moore and used it to select Williams.
The Bears also added running back D’Andre Swift and veteran tight end Gerald Everett, aiming to create a potent tandem with Cole Kmet. However, the offense has not come together as the Bears had hoped.
