How the Bears’ firing of Shane Waldron affects Caleb Williams and Matt Eberflus

by Junna Base November 12, 2024

Shane Waldron’s time as the Chicago Bears’ offensive coordinator will only last nine games.

The Bears announced Tuesday that they had fired Waldron before their Week 11 game against the Green Bay Packers. Chicago will replace him with 38-year-old passing game coordinator Thomas Brown.

The Bears are making a move, which is no surprise. Coach Matt Eberflus announced Monday after the team’s 19-3 loss to the New England Patriots in Week 10 that the team is making some changes.

“There has to be a change and adjustment to what we do because obviously we have lost three times in a row,” Eberflus said during a news conference. “But there’s also the perspective that we’re 4-5, haven’t played our division yet and are about to start a big football game this week. So, again, we’re just about to get that done.”

At that time, Eberflus was asked directly about Waldron’s status. He declined to say whether the 45-year-old was still a member of the team.

How will Waldron’s firing affect the Bears? Here’s what you should know about it and what could happen next in Chicago.

Why did the Bears fire Shane Waldron?

The Bears fired Waldron after the newcomer failed to boost the team’s offense during the first half of the 2024 season.

The Bears ranked third-worst in the NFL in yards per game (277.7) and 24th in scoring (19.4 points per game) during the first half of the season. Chicago is in the midst of a three-game losing streak in which the team has gone a whopping 23 possessions without scoring a touchdown.

Additionally, rookie No. 1 pick Caleb Williams had a slower start than many expected. He has 38 sacks league-wide and ranks just 28th among 34 qualified quarterbacks in passer rating. His PFF grade of 60.1 is good for 34th among 40 qualified quarterbacks.

Perhaps the most damning condemnation of Williams’ advances? Four rookies qualify for the NFL leaderboard in completion percentage, passer rating and QBR. Williams takes last place in the group that includes Jayden Daniels, Drake Maye and Bo Nix in all three categories.

All of this led Eberflus to believe the Bears needed a leadership change on offense.

“After evaluating our overall effort, I concluded that it was in the best interest of our team to take the direction of our offense in a different direction. This decision was well thought out and made consciously and respectfully,” Eberflus said in a statement released by the Bears. “I would like to thank Shane for his efforts and wish him all the best for the future.”

What Shane Waldron’s firing means for Caleb Williams

Waldron’s firing will essentially be a fresh start for Williams. He will work with Brown the rest of the season and see if the 38-year-old interim offensive coordinator can help him better adapt to the NFL.

Brown’s brief stint as offensive coordinator with the Carolina Panthers during the 2023 season may not provide much hope for an immediate rebound. The Panthers finished in the bottom two of the 2023 NFL season in both points and yards per game, while No. 1 overall pick Bryce Young had tremendous difficulty adapting to the pro level.

Therefore, it is not guaranteed that Brown will get Williams out of his crisis. At least a move can’t hurt the young quarterback too much as he looks to find his footing in the second half of his rookie season.

What Shane Waldron’s firing means for Matt Eberflus

Eberflus was on the hot seat during the 2023 NFL season. He managed to save his job with a strong finish to the season, but many believed he would be on shaky ground if things didn’t go well in 2024, especially on offense.

This could explain why Eberflus quickly left Waldron behind. The 54-year-old may have made the move as a last-ditch hope that Brown can boost Chicago’s offense, as coaches on the hot seat often do to save their jobs.

Eberflus is certainly in the hot seat. He has hired and fired two offensive coordinators, Waldron and Luke Getsy, and neither has succeeded. Unless Brown proves to be a panacea for Chicago’s offensive woes and gets them back into the playoff race, the Bears will likely be looking for new, offensive-minded leadership to replace Eberflus and Co. after a mediocre three-year tenure in Chicago.

Therefore, it appears that the ice beneath Eberflus is becoming thinner. Waldron’s firing is a warning sign that major changes could soon be coming in Chicago.

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