Bears Offensive Coordinator Defends Controversial Play Call

In a controversial moment during the Chicago Bears' 18-15 loss to the Washington Commanders, offensive coordinator Shane Waldron defended his decision to hand off the ball to backup center Doug Kramer on a critical third-and-goal play from the 1-yard line. The play resulted in a fumbled handoff recovered by the Commanders, a pivotal error that ended a scoring opportunity for the Bears while they were trailing 12-7. Waldron expressed confidence in the call, stating that the team had practiced it and he would make the same decision again, despite the backlash. He praised the defense for forcing a three-and-out immediately after the turnover, allowing the Bears to retake the lead briefly before a last-second Hail Mary sealed their fate. Critics highlighted the unusual choice of a center for the carry, as it was Kramer's first planned rushing attempt in the NFL. Waldron acknowledged that while valid criticism exists for calls that fail, he remains focused on improving future outcomes.