The Chicago Bears finally decided to let go of their offensive coordinator, Shane Waldron. This decision was a long time coming, even though he was only hired less than a year ago. The team’s performance on the field just wasn’t good enough with him in charge.
Interestingly, it seems like head coach Matt Eberflus didn’t make this call on his own. According to ESPN’s Marc “Silvy” Silverman, players had a big say in this change. They reportedly went to Eberflus and general manager Ryan Poles to push for Waldron’s removal.
After talking to a few people with knowledge of the situation, players went to Matt Eberflus & Ryan Poles asking them to make a change at offensive coordinator.
There have also been a few veteran players requesting Bagent starts. https://t.co/h3QSrhZjQ1— Silvy (@WaddleandSilvy) November 12, 2024
Not only did they want a new offensive coordinator, but some experienced players also suggested switching quarterbacks. The Bears’ offense has struggled all season, ranking near the bottom of the league in several categories like yards per play and points per game. Despite these issues, Eberflus seemed hesitant to make changes.
Caleb Williams, the rookie quarterback, hasn’t been performing well either, partly because of poor protection from the offensive line. Although Waldron wasn’t solely to blame, his strategies didn’t seem to help much. Thomas Brown is stepping in as the new play-caller. He joined the Bears this year after working with the Carolina Panthers and Los Angeles Rams.
Brown’s background as an NFL running back and his time playing with Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford might bring some fresh ideas to Chicago’s offense. Stafford himself has praised Brown’s promotion, offering some hope for improvement.