Bears Settle on Seahawks Coordinator

The new Bears offensive coordinator has both play-calling experience and experience in Sean McVay's offense.

According to an NFL Network report, Seattle Seahawks offensive coordinator Shane Waldron will be the new Bears offensive coordinator according to NFL Network's Tom Pelissero. The decision ends an extensive search for the next coordinator and more than half the candidates had worked in the Rams offense.

Now the tea leaf reading begin as to what this means about their quarterback position. Waldron was involved in resurrecting the QB career of Geno Smith in Seattle. Whether that means anything for the Bears and their coming Justin Fields or Caleb Williams decision is open to interpretation but they did interview two candidates who would have been tips to which way they were going and Waldron didn't specifically fit onto either side.

Waldron does work for the quarterback instruction group QB Collective. Williams has been working with QB Collective as well.

Waldron has been the offensive coordinator in Seattle for three seasons under Pete Carroll, who is no longer the Seahawks coach. Waldron didn't have spectacular success with the Seattle offense, which went through difficult quarterback issues during his team with the team.in

Seattle improved from 12th in rushing to 11th and fell off in passing from 16th to 23rd in Waldron's first season. This was Russell Wilson's final season.

Then Geno Smith became the starter and the Seattle offense improved from 16th to ninth in scoring, from 20th to 13th in yards and from 23rd to 11th in passing. In 2023, Seattle was 14th in passing, 28th in rushing and 17th in scoring.

Waldron was with McVay from 2017 through 2020 and also in 2016 with Washington when McVay was an offensive coordinator. Waldron was a quality control coach then before becoming tight ends coach with the Rams, then passing game coordinator and quarterbacks coach.

The fascination with the Rams offense is due largely to McVay's use of motion to throw off defenses. It's a quality often described as separating this form of the West Coast offense than some others using the wide zone blocking scheme.

The Bears also must fill quarterbacks coach, wide receivers coach, running backs coach and, if they decide to have a passing game coordinator that position as well.

They have tight ends coach Jim Dray and offensive line coach Chris Morgan still on staff.

They also are looking for a defensive coordinator and were reported to have interviewed former Bears safety Chris Harris for this position.

Greg Roman, Klint Kubiak, Greg Olson, Liam Coen, Marcus Brady, Thomas Brown, Zac Robinson and Kliff Kingsbury were reportedly considered for offensive coordinator.

It wouldn't be surprising if one or more off that list showed up on the Bears staff somewhere.

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