The Chicago Bears have appointed passing game coordinator Thomas Brown to take over play-calling duties as the team looks to end its three-game losing streak.
As part of the change, offensive coordinator Shane Waldron was fired on Tuesday. Just a week ago, Waldron had received support after a tough 29-9 loss to the Arizona Cardinals, but head coach Matt Eberflus decided that changes were necessary after evaluating the team.
“After evaluating our entire operation, I decided that it is in the best interest of our team to move in a different direction with the leadership of our offense,” Eberflus said in a statement.
“This decision was well-thought-out, one that was conducted deliberately and respectfully. I would like to thank Shane for his efforts and wish him the best moving forward.”
Eberflus had chosen Waldron as offensive coordinator, even considering former Cardinals head coach Kliff Kingsbury for the role. Eberflus was kept as head coach by general manager Ryan Poles after a 7-10 season last year.
Brown is no stranger to taking on the role of play-caller. Last season, he was promoted by the Carolina Panthers to take over the play-calling duties after head coach Frank Reich struggled. Brown helped breathe new life into the team and was tasked with guiding rookie quarterback Bryce Young.
The Bears now face an important game against the Packers (6-3), with confidence and performance at an all-time low after three straight losses. Rookie quarterback Caleb Williams has yet to throw a touchdown pass during this stretch.
Eberflus confirmed Monday that Williams will remain the starter, but changes will be made around him. The Bears were dominated by the New England Patriots (3-7) in their most recent game, and they have now gone 23 consecutive possessions without scoring a touchdown.
The team is struggling to keep up with the NFC North, and Eberflus is still winless against Green Bay in his first two seasons as head coach.
During the three-game losing streak, the Bears have scored just 27 points. The first loss came when rookie Jayden Daniels threw a game-winning Hail Mary for the Cardinals on Oct. 27.
Chicago scored only three points against the Patriots, failing to reach 17 points in five games this season. The Patriots sacked Williams nine times, just a week after the Cardinals had six sacks against the Bears.
Brown, a former NFL running back, began his coaching career under Sean McVay with the Rams. He spent nine seasons on college football staffs, including three years as the running backs coach and offensive coordinator at Miami (Fla.).
