The Bears are finalizing a deal with former Seattle Seahawks offensive coordinator Shane Waldron to fill the same role in Chicago, ESPN reported Monday.

Waldron was one of nine reported candidates interviewed by head coach Matt Eberflus and the Bears to replace Luke Getsy, who was fired on Jan. 10 after a 7-10 season.

Waldron, 44, spent the past three seasons calling the plays under former Seattle head coach Pete Carroll. The Seahawks (9-8) were 17th in the NFL in scoring offense and 21st in yards per game in 2023, compared to 18th and 20th for the Bears, respectively.

Waldron comes from Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay’s coaching tree. He coached the Rams’ tight ends in 2017 and was the team’s passing game coordinator from 2018-20.

He also has ties to former Patriots coach Bill Belichick, launching his NFL coaching career as an offensive quality control coach (2008) and tight ends coach (2009) for New England.

Waldron enters a fluid situation at quarterback in Chicago, where speculation about the future of Justin Fields future is rampant.

The Bears have the No. 1 pick in the 2024 draft, and general manager Ryan Poles said before the 2023 draft, when he swapped the No. 1 pick to the Carolina Panthers for two first-rounders and wide receiver DJ Moore, that this year’s first-round pick was important in the trade because it could be used on a franchise quarterback.

Should Fields return, he would be learning yet another offense, playing under his third offensive coordinator in four seasons.

–Field Level Media