A top priority for the Chicago Bears this offseason will be fixing an ailing offense that was among the worst in the NFL last season. While Mark Helfrich was ultimately the scapegoat for Chicago’s abysmal offense, there’s plenty of work to be done by Matt Nagy and Ryan Pace this offseason.
Two weeks into their offensive coordinator search, and the Bears have found their guy in former Cincinnati Bengals offensive coordinator Bill Lazor, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.
Sources: The #Bears are hiring former #Bengals offensive coordinator Bill Lazor as their new OC. An important hire for Matt Nagy after moving on from Mark Helfrich.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) January 13, 2020
Lazor, 47, has an extensive resume particularly working as a quarterbacks coach, which serves to help with Mitchell Trubisky. Aside from serving as Bengals offensive coordinator for two seasons (2017-18), Lazor was also the Miami Dolphins offensive coordinator for two seasons (2014-15). He also worked as the quarterbacks coach for the Philadelphia Eagles (2013), Seattle Seahawks (2008-09) and Washington Redskins (2006-07), among others.
There’s also an Andy Dalton connection that’s sure to gain some steam heading into the new league year. Lazor worked with Dalton in Cincinnati from 2016-18, where he first served as quarterbacks coach (2016) and then offensive coordinator (2017-18).
Lazor joins offensive line coach Juan Castillo and tight ends coach Clancy Barone as new faces to the Bears offense this season.
While Lazor has been named the Bears’ new offensive coordinator, it’s by title only. Nagy will continue to call plays and run his offense.
The Bears had expressed interest in signing former New York Giants coach Pat Shurmur as offensive coordinator before he chose to go to Denver with Vic Fangio, where he will get to run his offense and get to call plays.
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