People couldn’t pinpoint who the problem was on offense for the Chicago Bears: Luke Getsy or Justin Fields. In the end, it appears the team plans to not take any chances by replacing both. Having the #1 pick in the draft makes the latter choice somewhat easier. However, finding an offensive coordinator who’d be willing to risk joining Matt Eberflus in Chicago despite concerns about his job security looked like a daunting task. To everybody’s surprise, the Bears secured former Seattle Seahawks offensive coordinator Shane Waldron for the job.
What stood out about the new addition was the fact he wasn’t some cast-off desperate to find work. Waldron was never supposed to be available. However, the exit of Pete Carroll as head coach in Seattle changed everything. Waldron was encouraged to explore opportunities elsewhere, and the Bears pounced. They were the first team to meet with him and apparently made a strong impression. He signed on a few days later. Former scouting director Greg Gabriel has ties to several veteran personnel people around the NFL. All applauded the Bears’ decision to hire Waldron.
People I know well who have worked with Waldron in the past have nothing but good things to say about him. One person said, “He’s the complete package as a leader, teacher, and team guy, and he can shred defenses.”
Shane Waldron isn’t afraid. That alone should tell you something.
During his stint in Seattle, the young coordinator would routinely try all sorts of unique formations and concepts. His willingness to experiment often led to some innovative moments that helped the Seahawks create explosive plays. The fact he did this with an offensive line that was rarely ever at full strength speaks to his ability to adapt. He also had the bulk of his success with Geno Smith at quarterback, a player everybody called a bust for the better part of the last decade.
One thing about Shane Waldron is he always seems to meet tough challenges. The Cleveland Browns, Carolina Panthers, and Dallas Cowboys all finished with defenses ranked in the top five this year. Waldron engineered 24, 37, and 35 points against each of them respectively. Nobody can say he doesn’t understand how to attack strong opponents. If you give him a capable quarterback and some viable weapons, it feels like he will work some serious magic. The Bears may have gotten this one right.
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