Firing Shane Waldron won’t solve everything for the Bears.
Former Bears receiver and ESPN Chicago radio host Tom Waddle reported Tuesday that not only did Bears players push for the offensive coordinator to be let go, but “a few veteran players requested” that the team bench rookie No. 1 pick Caleb Williams.
While head coach Matt Eberflus ultimately decided to axe Waldron on Tuesday, he confirmed earlier in the week that Williams would remain the starter.
“After talking to a few people with knowledge of the situation, players went to Matt Eberflus and Ryan Poles asking them to make a change at offensive coordinator,” Waddle wrote on X. “There have also been a few veteran players requesting (Tyson) Bagent starts.”
Bagent played respectably as an undrafted rookie last season for five games in place of an injured Justin Fields, completing 66% of his passes for 859 yards, three touchdowns and six interceptions.
It comes after Williams was sacked nine times and had accuracy issues in an embarrassing 19-3 loss to the Patriots on Sunday.
The No. 1 pick and the entire offense has regressed significantly in three straight losses after starting the season 4-2.
“Definitely this game is a lot to learn from for myself, just speaking on some of the situational things,” Williams said Sunday after the loss dropped Chicago to 4-5.
“Obviously, there’s a few passes every game that you wish you could have back and things like that. But I think situationally, this game was a great learning experience for me with some of these situations that I could have done better for sure.”
The onus now falls on Thomas Brown, who is replacing Waldron after serving as pass game coordinator, to revitalize Williams’ rookie season.
Williams has been sacked 38 times already this season and has been criticized for holding on to the ball too long.
The offense is coming off back-to-back games without a touchdown, something the historically offensively-inept franchise has not accomplished since 2004.
The former Heisman winner has thrown for 1,785 yards, nine touchdowns and five interceptions.
The Bears now begin a slate of three straight games against NFC North rivals, starting with the Packers at home Sunday.