Bears Players Reportedly Had Role in Shane Waldron Firing

The Chicago Bears shook up their coaching staff on Tuesday morning when they fired offensive coordinator Shane Waldron. With the Bears averaging only 9.0 points per game amid a three-game losing streak, it's clear that offensive improvements are necessary and Waldron's dismissal was necessary to reach that point.

Management and ownership can influence coaching decisions, however, Chicago head coach Matt Eberflus told The Athletic's Kevin Fishbain that it was his decision to fire Waldron. While that could be true for the most part, it's beginning to look like other factors played a role in the change behind the Bears' bench.

Bears Rumors: Players Complained About OC Shane Waldron

Bears insider Marc Silverman is reporting that frustrated players may have led to Waldron's firing. According to Silverman, various players spoke with Eberflus and general manager Ryan Poles "asking them to make a change at offensive coordinator."

It isn't hard to see why the Bears' offensive players were frustrated by Waldron's performance. Chicago went from scoring 24-plus points in four of its first six games to finishing with 15 or fewer in each of the last three. That's without mentioning how the team hasn't found the end zone since running back Roschon Johnson scored with 25 seconds remaining in the 18-15 Week 8 loss to the Washington Commanders.

Interestingly enough, that isn't the only offensive change that players are reportedly pushing for. Silverman added that "there have also been a few veteran players" who wouldn't mind backup quarterback Tyson Bagent starting over Caleb Williams.

Williams, this year's first-overall selection, has played to mixed results under center. The rookie signal-caller has started in all nine games so far, completing 60.5% of passes for 1,785 passing yards, nine touchdowns, five interceptions, and an 81.0 passer rating.

Meanwhile. Bagent has been with the Bears since joining the franchise as an undrafted free agent last year. He went on to make five appearances (4 starts) in his first NFL season, tallying a 2-2 record, 65.7% completion percentage, 859 passing yards, and three TDs to six INTs.

With Waldron gone, passing game coordinator Thomas Brown has been promoted to OC. The ex-RB joined Eberflus' staff in the offseason after splitting the first four seasons of his NFL coaching career between the LA Rams and Carolina Panthers.

The Bears will showcase their new-look offense when they host the rival Green Bay Packers in Week 11. Hopefully, the changes pay off quickly considering that Chicago is currently projected as the 5.5-point underdog at Soldier Field on Sunday, according to FanDuel Sportsbook.

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