Maybe it’s best to start here, late in the fourth quarter of Week 15 with the Seattle Seahawks trailing 17-13 and pinned inside their 10-yard line. The two-minute warning had just passed, right after the Philadelphia Eagles downed a punt at the Seahawks 8.
After scoring a field goal two possessions earlier, the Seahawks had a chance but faced a high-pressure challenge against a quality opponent in the late stages of a crucial game. On the sideline at Lumen Field, offensive coordinator Shane Waldron approached quarterback Drew Lock — a last-minute starter due to Geno Smith’s injury — and started working on a game plan.
It was a critical moment for a 6-7, playoff-contending team in need of a big play on the “Monday Night Football” stage.
The following drive started with an incomplete pass — a Lock throw over the middle that bounced off tight end Noah Fant’s hands and nearly got intercepted. Over the next nine plays, there were a few other close calls. But the series also included five Lock completions, including a third-and-10 pass up the right sideline to DK Metcalf for 34 yards.
Then, facing another third-and-long from the Eagles 29, Lock spotted rookie Jaxon Smith-Njigba in single coverage, had the perfect play call from Waldron, and threw a game-winning pass into the end zone with 28 seconds remaining.
Seahawks 20, Eagles 17.
This was a relatively small moment amid a disappointing season for the Seahawks. But for everyone involved, it was a game-on-the-line triumph and exemplified the resilient, composed, and fearless football Waldron wants his team to play.
Six days later, with Smith back at quarterback, Waldron influenced another game-winning touchdown drive that finished in the final minute, this time a grinding, 14-play, 75-yard march that culminated in a 20-17 road win over the Tennessee Titans.
This was only the second time in NFL history — and the first since 1999 — a team had two quarterbacks throw game-winning touchdown passes in the final minute of regulation in consecutive weeks. And it provided additional evidence of Waldron’s ability to adjust and prepare his players for success in the critical stages of games.
The Chicago Bears are looking to capitalize on Waldron's skills and more as their new offensive coordinator. This partnership was made official Tuesday. Waldron, 44, will start the next phase of his football journey at a potentially significant time in Bears history.
He will be the offensive mastermind responsible for powering the team’s championship pursuit while bringing out the best in whichever quarterback(s) the Bears choose to lead them into 2024 and beyond.
Waldron will also step into an offensive coordinator’s office at Halas Hall where — with the exception of Adam Gase — the occupants almost always leave through a trap door rather than on an up escalator.
The quest for consistency
Within league circles, Waldron is considered an up-and-coming offensive designer, an intelligent and innovative coach with strong teaching abilities. His work with Smith in Seattle in 2022 is especially notable as the once-overlooked quarterback had a standout year (4,282 passing yards, 30 TDs) on the way to earning Pro Bowl honors and the league’s Comeback Player of the Year award.
Waldron has worked under some of the sport’s great coaches like Bill Belichick with the New England Patriots (2008-09), Sean McVay with the Los Angeles Rams (2017-20) and Pete Carroll for the last three seasons in Seattle.
He was the Rams passing game coordinator for three seasons and Jared Goff’s quarterbacks coach in 2019. He spent one season with Russell Wilson in Seattle before preparing Smith to be a productive starter for a playoff team in 2022.
When the Bears formally introduce Waldron, he will likely explain three key principles within his offensive philosophy. Ball security is crucial. Fundamentals need a daily commitment to stay sharp. The entire group's buy-in will be the catalyst for everything.
Waldron will likely emphasize his commitment to consistency. He aims for balance in his offense, seeking to establish a strong running game while embracing an attacking mentality when explosive-play opportunities arise.
Similarly to the two late comeback victories last month, Waldron certainly wants his offense's identity to include composure, determination and high-level mental toughness.
As a play caller, he will need to connect on a higher level with his quarterback, striving to consistently bring out the best in whoever that may be.
It is assumed that, at the very least, he will be given input as his new bosses at Halas Hall work to solve that challenge in the coming weeks and months. This work will include both pre-draft preparation and in-house discussions on the developmental progress of Justin Fields.
Fit process
Like with any coaching hire, it’s easy to lean towards feelings of hope, towards the optimistic visions of the significant improvements that can trigger a meaningful breakthrough. Waldron’s experience calling plays was definitely a positive for the Bears. For general manager Ryan Poles and coach Matt Eberflus, that removes a portion of the uncertainty that comes with trying to predict how he might handle those responsibilities in Chicago and what level of productivity they can expect.
However, Eberflus and Poles hired their last offensive coordinator less than two years ago — the January 2022 union with Luke Getsy that generated significant excitement at Halas Hall.
Like Waldron, Getsy was lauded as an up-and-coming, young offensive coach with high intelligence, proven teaching skills and impressive creativity. He had been with the Green Bay Packers for six of the previous seven seasons, including three working under Matt LaFleur in a Kyle Shanahan/McVay-style offense. Getsy was supported by those who knew him best — players and coaches — as a strong communicator, steady leader and genuine, relatable team builder.
He had been Aaron Rodgers’ quarterbacks coach for MVP seasons in 2020 and 2021 and, while serving as Mike McCarthy’s receivers coach in 2016 and 2017, had been credited by Davante Adams as influential in his breakthrough.
“He’s been on my radar for a while,” Eberflus said after hiring Getsy, later emphasizing his attraction to the timing-based, quick-decision passing attack Getsy was likely to bring.
For the next two seasons, Getsy was considered as a creative football thinker with strong teamwork skills and a complete understanding of all the parts within an offense. But the Bears, under his leadership, also had significant inconsistency problems, and the expected progress for Fields never reached the level the team hoped for.
All the positive qualities the Bears saw in Getsy didn't matter much when his offense often struggled.
Fields tried his best to learn a system that was not ideal for him. Getsy’s problem-solving efforts sometimes led Fields away from concepts and plays he was most comfortable with.
It became a frustrating situation. The quarterback was often adjusting to the play caller. The play caller was adjusting to the quarterback. The offense, in turn, was adjusting, readjusting, then adjusting again for large parts of two seasons, hindering the chance to build momentum or improve, particularly in the passing game.
It was a problem of fitting. A big one. And it’s a lesson Eberflus and Poles must learn as they try to set up Waldron for success.
Waldron’s experience and adaptive qualities should help. But with the Bears potentially at a pivot point at quarterback, striving to align the offensive vision with the personnel must remain a priority as well.
For whatever it’s worth, Waldron’s Seahawks ranked behind the Bears this season in total offense, first downs, touchdowns, third-down conversion percentage and red-zone efficiency. They also had a bottom-five rushing attack.
Waldron must find ways to make his next offense much more potent. Whatever it takes. He must have solutions and ideas for maximizing his quarterback’s gifts while also playing to the strengths of the supporting cast.
And when the pressure rises? When the Bears reach those critical stages of close games? Waldron will be expected to consistently be at his best, bringing out the best in every player in his offense.
The Bears, naturally, are hopeful for what’s ahead. Ultimately, the results Waldron produces and his ability to help the team’s quarterback(s) shine will define his time in Chicago.
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