Following the offensive struggles this season, it was expected that there would be big changes made on the offensive side of the football.
Shortly after general manager Ryan Pace and head coach Matt Nagy met with the media for their end of the year press conference, the Bears made some changes to their offensive coaching staff.
The Bears are dismissing offensive coordinator Mark Helfrich, offensive line coach Harry Hiestand, tight ends coach Kevin Gilbride and assistant special teams coach Brock Olivo the Bears announced Tuesday.
The #Bears have parted ways with the following coaches:
Kevin Gilbride (TE)
Mark Helfrich (OC)
Harry Hiestand (OL)
Brock Olivo (Asst. ST)— Chicago Bears (@BearsPR) December 31, 2019
“We struggled in that area this year. That’s real,” Pace said during his presser. “I think we know it starts up front with those guys. That’s something we really got to look at from a personnel standpoint. From a schematic standpoint we’re going to look at it. That was real this year. That hurt us.”
The moves don’t really come as a big surprise considering the offense’s deficiencies this season. Specifically looking at the dismissal of Hiestand and Gilbride, who oversaw two of the most frustrating aspects of the offense this season with the offensive line and tight ends.
While Helfrich didn’t call plays for the Bears — that was Nagy — he was responsible for the install and execution of the offense. He also appears to be the fall guy for the offense’s struggles, and the Bears will look to fill the holes on Nagy’s coaching staff.
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