Bears Part Ways with Offensive Coordinator Shane Waldron
In a move that had been looming over the Chicago Bears, the team has officially dismissed offensive coordinator Shane Waldron. This decision follows an ongoing stretch of underperformance and internal unrest within the offense, culminating in a season mired by inefficiencies and shortcomings.
Under Waldron’s guidance, the Bears found themselves languishing near the bottom of the league in offensive efficiency. Their struggles are evident in their yardage production, averaging just 4.3 yards per play, placing them in the bottom three in the NFL. Challenges on third down conversions are equally concerning, with a mere 28.7% success rate, again ranking near the league’s bottom.
Perhaps most glaring is the team’s failure to cross the end zone in their past two games, a stark reminder of the offensive woes that have become all too familiar this season. The offensive line has not been spared, allowing 38 sacks thus far, further compounding the struggles of a sputtering offense.
Amidst the faltering performance on the field, internal issues behind the scenes have also surfaced. Players have reportedly expressed dissatisfaction with Waldron’s strategies and leadership, pointing to a lack of rigorous accountability and necessary adaptations during games. D.J. Moore, one of the team’s key players, remarked, "I want to say probably when we want to call it's probably like a drive too late or like we wanted to make adjustments and we just wait till halftime to make it and then we don't get the same looks."
Keenan Allen, another voice in the locker room, echoed concerns about Waldron’s leadership style, stating, "I would say just probably he was too nice of a guy. I think during OTAs, training camp, he kind of fell into a trap of letting things go, not holding people accountable. Obviously those things lead to a slippery slope."
The discontent reached a turning point following a loss to the Indianapolis Colts in September, prompting a meeting with the team's leadership council. Despite these efforts, the offense continued its downward trajectory, leading head coach Matt Eberflus and the organization to make the difficult decision to part ways with Waldron.
"They just want to do more. They just want to do more. They want to be more productive. More effective. Score points for our football team. Just do more as a group and then more individually in terms of helping the group," Eberflus explained, emphasizing the need for change. He further lamented the timing of adjustments, noting, "Just didn't happen in a timely fashion."
This decision signals a shift in strategy, aimed at realigning both performance and morale within the Bears’ ranks. Head coach Eberflus has acknowledged that the desired outcomes have been elusive up to this point, but he remains hopeful that this decisive move will steer the offense in a new direction. As the Bears look to regroup and rebuild, the front office will be eager to instill a new philosophy that prioritizes accountability and adaptability.
The departure of Shane Waldron marks the end of a tenure that failed to meet the aspirations of a franchise eager to reclaim its competitive stature. With a focus on recalibrating their offensive approach, the Bears now face the challenge of identifying leadership that can galvanize the team towards fulfilling its potential on the field.