Some are wondering why Shane Waldron, Chicago Bears offensive coordinator, was fired after being in the position for less than a year, but some sports experts say that they saw this coming. On Tuesday, November 12, 2024, the Bears announced that Waldron would be replaced by passing game coordinator Thomas Brown. This is after a rough outing for the team, which racked up three losses in a row against the Washington Commanders, Arizona Cardinals, and New England Patriots.
Why was Shane Waldron fired as Chicago Bears offensive coordinator in 2024?
Shane Waldron was fired for not developing rookie quarterback Caleb Williams properly and for having poor passing concepts, according to experts.
Mike Greenberg on ESPN’s Get Up explains that those in the field who understand the intricacies of the quarterback position have told him that “they are not doing any of the right things to develop [Williams].”
He says they the offensive team has been giving him plays that a 10-year seasoned quarterback, not a rookie, should be running. They are “accentuating the flaws and not taking advantage of things he does well.”
Williams was the number one draft pick in the 2024 NFL Draft after winning the USC Heisman Trophy. However, during the Bears’ losing streak, he has ranked at near the bottom for passing stats, including sacks (18), completion percentage (50.5%), passing touchdowns (0), and yards per attempt (4.9), as noted by ESPN. He is currently dating Alina Thyregod.
Retired QB Dan Orlovsky also knocked the bad passing concepts of the Bears in a ESPN segment on November 5. He says that poor timing and rhythm with the offense have led to a lot of wasted opportunities.
Brown will have to prove that he can recalibrate the Bears’ offense quickly in the second half of the NFL season. He was the offensive coordinator for the Carolina Panthers in 2023, which had a 2-15 record that season.
