The Chicago Bears' lengthy search for their next offensive coordinator is over.
After nearly two weeks of interviews, the Bears plan to hire former Seattle offensive coordinator Shane Waldron, a source confirmed to NBC Sports Chicago. NFL Media's Tom Pelissero was first to report the news on Monday morning.
Waldron was the offensive coordinator of the Seattle Seahawks for the past three seasons. The 44-year-old has worked with both Russell Wilson and Geno Smith. He played a crucial role in Smith being named the 2022 Comeback Player of the Year.
Waldron previously spent four seasons coaching under McVay with the Rams as passing game coordinator, quarterbacks coach and tight ends coach.
In three seasons in Seattle, Waldron's offense ranked 12th in EPA per play, 13th in success rate, eighth in EPA per rush and ninth in EPA per dropback. The Seahawks' offense ranked fifth in yards per play, fifth in explosive run rate and ninth in explosive pass rate.
Waldron's units were good at converting first downs into a new series (2nd in the NFL), but struggled in the red zone (51.5 percent touchdown rate) and on third downs (38.5 percent conversation rate).
After firing offensive coordinator Luke Getsy, Bears general manager Ryan Poles and head coach Matt Eberflus said they were looking for a candidate who would be a “great teacher,” “adaptable,” capable of “creating explosives,” and “innovative.” be.
Waldron seems to check all of those boxes. He comes from the popular Shanahan stock – an offense that uses the running game to stretch the field horizontally and open windows in the passing game. The quarterback-friendly scheme emphasizes getting the ball to the playmakers in space to prioritize yards after the catch.
Eberflus hired Getsy because he believed the Green Bay Packers' plan – also an offshoot of the Shanahan tree – was the most difficult attack to prevent. Getsy never followed through on his promise to stage a similar crime.
Waldron was considered a strong candidate for the position from the start. He was the first to apply for the job, but the Bears interviewed eight other candidates before landing on Waldron.
With Waldron now on board, the Bears are turning their full attention to their upcoming quarterback decision. Poles said he believes Justin Fields can lead the Bears, but owning the No. 1 pick over the Carolina Panthers presents the franchise with a unique opportunity.
USC quarterback Caleb Williams is the prize of the 2024 NFL Draft, with most scouts viewing him as a “generational” passer who will be hard to pass.
Williams is completing his pre-draft training with Rich Scangarello. Williams met Scangarello through the QB Collective, a professional invitational camp for elite high school prospects. Waldron has also worked with the QB collective, along with most of the notable names from the Shanahan tribe.
The Bears said their OC interview process would ask candidates how they want to design offenses around quarterbacks with different skill sets.
Waldron appears to have passed that test and will now play a key role in helping Poles and Eberflus chart the Bears' quarterback course for the future.