The Bears Have a New Offensive Coordinator!

The Chicago Bears have their offensive coordinator. Shane Waldron will lead the Bears offense next season.

Waldron was the Bears’ first interview; ultimately, they got their guy. But is he the right guy? We won’t know the answer to that question until we see Waldron’s offense at work next season. But right now, the hire grades out pretty well, in most people’s opinions.

Personally, Waldron and Zac Robinson were my favorite candidates among the Bears’ pool of interviewees for the opening.

Waldron was the most well-regarded candidate among those interviewed by the Bears. It's a credit to coach Matt Eberflus to get him onboard amid the increasing competition for teams to complete their staff. One of the most significant differences between Waldron and Getsy is the play-calling experience.

Waldron has spent three seasons calling plays, including the 2022 season with Geno Smith, who went from being a draft bust to an MVP candidate. In the 2022 season, Smith completed an NFL-best 69.8 percent of his passes for 4,282 yards, 30 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions. As a result, he received his first Pro Bowl selection in his ninth season.

Waldron has also worked with more starting quarterbacks than Getsy. The list includes Kirk Cousins (Washington, 2016), Jared Goff (Los Angeles, 2018-20), Russell Wilson (Seattle, 2021), and Smith. The Bears prioritized adaptability in their search, and Waldron's experience with multiple quarterbacks likely appealed to them.

Before joining the Bears, Getsy worked almost exclusively with Aaron Rodgers as the Packers' longtime starter. Waldron's experience with Rams coach Sean McVay should bode well for the Bears, as that system has proved to be effective in the NFL and is similar to what the Bears ran last season.

If you’re looking for what Waldron’s offense might look like, it’s not that different from Luke Getsy’s, in theory. The two coaches called plays differently, though.