Chicago Bears Consider Firing Offensive Coordinator Shane Waldron Amid Offensive Struggles

The Chicago Bears are contemplating significant changes to their offense, with the job status of offensive coordinator Shane Waldron hanging in the balance. Following a dismal 19-3 loss to the New England Patriots, the Bears have extended their losing streak to three games, highlighting severe issues with their offense[3][4].

Waldron, who was hired by the Bears from the Seattle Seahawks prior to the 2024 season, has faced increasing scrutiny for his playcalling. The team has not scored an offensive touchdown in two consecutive games, a streak that last occurred in the 2004 season. The Bears are averaging less than 20 points per game and have the NFL’s third-worst offense in terms of yards per game, with just 277.7 yards of offense on average[1][3][5].

Rookie quarterback Caleb Williams, who was expected to be a key factor in the team’s success, has struggled significantly under Waldron’s guidance. Williams has not thrown a touchdown pass since Week 6 and has been sacked 18 times in his last three games. His performance has regressed, with a completion percentage of 50.5% and an average of 156 passing yards in the same period[1][3].

Bears head coach Matt Eberflus has indicated that the decision on Waldron’s future is ongoing. “The process of that, we’re going through that right now,” Eberflus said, adding that the team is still in the evaluation phase of potential changes. Eberflus emphasized that any decisions would be his alone[1][3][4].

If the Bears decide to make a change, they could either fire Waldron or strip him of his play-calling duties. Another option could be to assign play-calling responsibilities to another coach, such as Thomas Brown, the current pass-game coordinator. Brown has previous experience as a play-caller and was a candidate for the offensive coordinator position before Waldron was hired[4].

The situation is further complicated by the team’s upcoming schedule, which includes six games against NFC North opponents, starting with the Green Bay Packers this week. The Bears have a historically poor record against the Packers, having lost 25 of their last 28 meetings[1][3].

Former Bears players and coaches have also weighed in on the situation, suggesting that changes are necessary to revitalize the offense. The consensus is that the current state of the offense is unacceptable and that coaching, particularly Waldron’s leadership and play-calling, is a significant part of the problem[2][5].