Shane Waldron, the Chicago Bears’ offensive coordinator, remains unshaken in his controversial play call during their Week 8 loss to the Washington Commanders.
While Jayden Daniels’ last-second Hail Mary sealed Chicago’s defeat, it was an earlier, baffling call that drew more criticism: a goal-line handoff to backup center Doug Kramer Jr. on third-and-goal. Down by five, the play nearly ended in disaster when Kramer fumbled, though the Bears managed to recover and score on the next play.
Despite the risky call nearly costing the Bears the game, Waldron defended his decision when speaking to reporters, with no signs of regret. There is a time and place for giving a lineman the ball—fans love the idea of a “big man” touchdown—but this play left many scratching their heads.
With under a minute left, the Bears were at the one-yard line in a tight game, a moment when a mishap would be particularly costly. The Commanders’ defense anticipated a run, and handing off to an offensive lineman provided little strategic advantage, making the choice difficult to justify.
In the end, although Chicago managed to take the lead temporarily, they ultimately lost, making the controversial play call another puzzling chapter in the game.
