In January, the Chicago Bears announced the hiring of Shane Waldron as the team’s new offensive coordinator.
“We are excited to add Shane to our coaching staff,” said head coach Matt Eberflus via the Chicago Bears.
“I also want to thank all the candidates we spoke to throughout the interview process. This was a very exhaustive search, but in the end I’m grateful the journey led us to Shane. He is a great teacher and communicator with a diverse coaching background among some of the game’s most elite head coaches. I look forward to partnering with him as we build out the rest of the staff and get him started here.”
“I appreciate this opportunity given to me by Coach Eberflus and Ryan Poles,” said Waldron via the Chicago Bears. “We can’t wait to get to work at a franchise with such a storied history and passionate fan base.”
Waldron brings 19 years of coaching experience, including 10 in the NFL, to the Bears’ coaching staff according to the Chicago Bears.
He comes to Chicago after most recently serving as offensive coordinator for the Seattle Seahawks, a position he held for three seasons. Prior to his time in Seattle, he spent four seasons with the Los Angeles Rams, including the last three as passing game coordinator.
In three seasons in Seattle, Waldron’s offense ranked third in yards per touch (7), third in big plays passing (110), fourth in big plays rushing percentage (13.0%), fifth in completion percentage (66.6%), eighth in yards per reception (11.2) and tied for tenth in passing touchdowns (83).
The Seahawks’ offense also ranked tied for first in turnovers (53), second in interceptions (31) and fifth in interception percentage (1.9%), the Bears added.
In 2022, Waldron was instrumental in the success of quarterback Geno Smith, who became the first quarterback since Rich Gannon (1999) to earn his first Pro Bowl selection in Year 10 or later. Smith finished the season leading the NFL in completion percentage (69.8%), finished in the top five in touchdown passes (30), and passer rating (100.9), while setting franchise records for completion percentage, passing yards (4,282), completions (399), and pass attempts (572), the Bears noted.
He was named the 2022 AP Comeback Player of the Year and Seattle’s offense ranked in the top-10 in at least eight major categories. The offensive success included major contributions from the 2022 draft class, including Charles Cross and Abraham Lucas, who became the first rookie duo to start a team’s first 15 games at tackle since the 1970 merger. Fellow rookie Kenneth Walker III finished second in AP Offensive Rookie of the Year voting while leading all rookie runners in attempts (228), yards (1,050) and rushing touchdowns (9), said the Bears.
Joseph Phillips is the Sports Editor for the Chicago Crusader Newspaper. He is a Chicago native, who has been a sports writer for over 17 years. He also hosts the SC Media News and Sports Network Q&A radio show on WHPK 88.5 FM Chicago.
