Bears to hire Shane Waldron as new offensive coordinator

The Chicago Bears have zeroed in on a new offensive coordinator.

The Bears are working toward a deal to hire ex-Seahawks OC Shane Waldron as their new coordinator, NFL Network Insider Tom Pelissero reported on Monday, per sources informed of the situation.

Chicago officially announced his hiring on Tuesday.

The 44-year-old Waldron spent the past three seasons as the Seahawks’ offensive coordinator. Prior to joining Seattle, Waldron worked under Sean McVay in Los Angeles, rising from tight ends coach in 2017 to passing game coordinator before leaving for the division rivals in 2021.

It’s a big-time hire for coach Matt Eberflus after the Bears fired offensive coordinator Luke Getsy following another disappointing season for the offense. Getsy joined Chicago with no pro play-calling experience, having worked under Matt LaFleur in Green Bay. The experiment didn’t work out, as the Bears offense was a concoction of inconsistencies and head-scratching designs at times.

Hiring Waldron gives Eberflus an experienced, creative play-caller who has shown an ability to mix the run and pass. Having worked under Pete Carroll, Waldron knows how to run an offense for a defensive-minded coach and was credited with helping quarterback Geno Smith to his 2022 Pro Bowl campaign.

In 2023, Waldron’s offense in Seattle averaged 21.4 points per game and 322.9 yards per game.

The question spinning forward is who Waldron’s quarterback will be.

General manager Ryan Poles must decide whether to use the No. 1 overall pick on a new quarterback — Caleb Williams, Drake Maye — or trade the pick and ride with Justin Fields. Waldron’s hire doesn’t give a big hint at where the Bears might be leaning — in relation to, say, a Kliff Kingsbury might have — but his ability to work with multiple quarterbacks in his years in L.A. and Seattle makes it a good hire regardless of which track the front office decides to take.