Bears
Bears fire OC Shane Waldron nine games into first season: Who will take over?
After three consecutive losses, the Chicago Bears have fired offensive coordinator Shane Waldron just nine games into his first season with the team.
When the Chicago Bears drafted quarterback Caleb Williams No. 1 overall in the 2024 Draft, he seemed primed to go into one of the best possible scenarios. With their second pick and No.9 overall, the Bears chose wide receiver Rome Odunze. With his talent plus the talent already on the roster - DJ Moore and Keenan Allen - Williams was set with a great receiving core to bolster the passing offense.
Offensive coordinator Shane Waldron was brought on to help mold Williams for success in his first NFL season. That didn’t go exactly according to plan...
Bears fire Shane Waldron
Just nine games into his first season with the team, the Bears have fired Waldron following three consecutive losses and countless offensive issues.
The Bears are playing worse than their 4-5 record displays and are in last place in the NFC North. The offense has not scored a touchdown in the last 23 possessions (two games). The supposed stacked receiving core can‘t seem to get on the same page. And Waldron couldn’t find a solution to any of that.
His firing comes after a 19-3 loss to the New England Patriots at home. Williams threw for just 120 yards and the offense totaled just 143 yards. Williams was sacked nine times. They have now allowed six sacks or more in back-to-back games for the first time since 1993. That brings Williams' sack total to 38 on the season.
Williams may be a rookie quarterback, but he had the tools around him to succeed. If he didn‘t anyway, that could be a sign of poor coaching. That’s what the Bears thought it seems.
Thomas Brown to take over as Bears offensive coordinator
Thomas Brown is the Bears' offensive passing game coordinator and will take over offensive coordinator duties in the meantime.
The Bears will face their NFC North rival Green Bay Packers this Sunday and they’re hoping this change is what they need to find some offensive success and salvage their season.