New Chicago Bears head coach Matt Nagy wasted little time finding his right-hand man. Former Oregon coach Mark Helfrich will be the team’s offensive coordinator, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
Helfrich didn’t coach anywhere in 2016, but he most recently was the boss at Oregon. After spending four years as Chip Kelly’s offensive coordinator in Eugene, Helfrich replaced Kelly when he bolted for the NFL. Oregon posted a 37-16 record with Helfrich, though a 4-8 season led to his dismissal.
But he certainly can coach offense.
Oregon earned top-10 rankings in efficiency six times in eight years with Helfrich on its staff, highlighted by a pair of No. 2 finishes when he was the head coach.
The Bears need to develop Mitch Trubisky, who showed franchise-changing potential as a rookie, and that fits Helfrich’s background. He coached quarterbacks while at Oregon, most notably Heisman Trophy winner Marcus Mariota.