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With the Chicago Bears selecting quarterback Caleb Williams and wide receiver Rome Odunze in the 2024 NFL Draft, the offense is going to look much different during their rookie campaigns. Leading the way will be the Bears new offensive coordinator in Shane Waldron.
While Chicago went a different direct at OC, head coach Matt Eberflus retained his position. Tasked with finding his next offensive coordinator, Eberflus could’ve looked into his black book of NFL connections he has made over his career. Instead, he decided to think outside the box and hire a coach in Waldron he had no experience with, via Up & Adams.
“We did not know each other before,” Eberflus said. “I always say your tape is your resume. I’ve always enjoyed watching his tape and respected it. That’s really why he got the job.”
Despite not knowing each other before the interview process, Waldron and Eberflus will need to work in tandem for Chicago to succeed. The Bears ranked 20th in the NFL by averaging 323.2 yards per game in 2023.
With a refresh at the quarterback position and an overall influx of talent, Eberflus is expecting much more from his offense in 2024. It didn’t take long for him to see that Waldron was the right coach to get Chicago’s offense to where it needs to be.
Shane Waldron’s journey to Bears
Shane Waldron has held a litany of roles throughout his journey in football. He crossed paths with Bill Belichick as a New England Patriots assistant during his early career. His most recent stop came as the offensive coordinator of the Seattle Seahawks. Every stop along the way taught him about football and how to lead an offense.
His role with the Seahawks was the first time that Waldron was an OC at the NFL level. In 2022, Seattle found its stride, ranking 13th in the NFL by gaining 351.5 yards per game. While the Seahawks couldn’t match that ranking in either of Waldron’s other two seasons, the Bears were certainly impressed with what they saw on film.
As they watched, they saw Waldron help turn Geno Smith into a starting quarterback. After earning five starts total from 2015-21, Smith has started 32 games from 2022-23. Both seasons ended with Smith earning a Pro Bowl nod.
The work Waldron will have to do with Caleb Williams will be much different. Rather than trying to re-make a name for himself, Williams is entering Chicago with the keys to the castle. Now, Waldron must implement a system that highlights his strengths and helps him move the ball forward.
There will be plenty of hype emanating out of Soldier Field in 2024. Plenty of it will be because of the Bears’ new look offense. Shane Waldron will have high expectations place on him after Luke Getsy’s performance in the role. But Matt Eberflus remains confident that the stranger turned assistant coach is the best thing for the Bears.
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- The 'Super Bowl starting QBs' quiz
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