(670 The Score) The Bears will hire former Seahawks offensive coordinator Shane Waldron to the same position in Chicago, a source said Monday morning, setting him up as the new leader of their offense. NFL Media first reported the news.
Waldron, 44, spent the last three seasons as the Seahawks' offensive coordinator. He became available for hire after Pete Carroll stepped down as head coach in Seattle. Waldron was among the first candidates targeted by the Bears after the team fired offensive coordinator Luke Getsy on Jan. 10.
The Seahawks were 17th in scoring and 21st in yardage in the 2023 season under the watch of Waldron, who served as the primary play-caller in Seattle.
Prior to being hired by the Seahawks, Waldron spent four seasons with the Rams, working under head coach Sean McVay. He served as the tight ends coach, quarterbacks coach and passing game coordinator in Los Angeles.
Bears head coach Matt Eberflus emphasized that he didn't want to limit the offensive coordinator search to candidates of a specific style or background, and he didn't intend to use the hire specifically to align with the team's looming decision at quarterback.
The Bears interviewed nine candidates before electing to hire Waldron.
"You want to have somebody that's a great teacher," Eberflus said earlier in January. "I think that's important because you know he has to coach the coaches to coach the position. And I think that's the No. 1 trait of any great coach. You have to be able to have the innovation to really look at the players that you have and be able to help enhance and put those guys in position to succeed and to get explosives and to move the ball down the field."
In Chicago, Waldron is expected to implement a scheme that's similar to the Bears' outside zone running offense – an important factor given how Chicago's front office has scouted and identified players who best suit that system.
Eberflus will now turn his attention to hiring a defensive coordinator, a position that has been vacant since Alan Williams abruptly resigned in September. Eberflus called the defensive plays once Williams left his position. The Bears also need to fill the roles of quarterbacks coach and wide receivers coach.
As of Monday morning, the Bears' hadn't officially confirmed the appointment of Waldron as their new offensive coordinator.
Chris Emma covers the Bears, Chicago's sports scene and more for 670TheScore.com. Follow him on Twitter @CEmma670.
