Thomas Brown - Offensive Passing Game Coordinator
The most logical option to take over playcalling if the Chicago Bears move on from Shane Waldron is Thomas Brown. Brown is currently the Offensive Passing Game Coordinator. He is the only other coach who has offensive play-calling experience. Unfortunately, the play-calling experience came in 2023 with the Carolina Panthers.
While calling plays in Carolina last year, the Panthers were 29th in EPA per play and 29th in success rate. Are we sure we want to see Brown call plays? Then you have to add in the fact that he's currently overseeing the passing game -- the one part of the offense that seems the most broken. The good news is that Brown was the RB and assistant head coach in Los Angeles with the Rams. He was there when the Rams won the Super Bowl in 2021.
However, is Brown the guy who oversees the WR route concepts? How much of that is managed by Waldron? If Brown is the main source and Waldron gives him flexibility without oversight, then please do not give Brown the reigns. Too often we see guys out of position or running routes that literally make no sense based on the timing of the dropback.
Caleb Williams needs help from his coach and I don't know if the former coordinator of the worst team in the NFL last season makes the most sense. His time in Los Angeles with Sean McVay could help and the Panthers did not have much talent. However, Waldron coached with McVay in Los Angeles as well, and look where that's gotten us. Maybe it's time to give playcalling to a guy who has never done it before.