Report: Pat Shurmur chose Broncos over Bears for OC position

The Chicago Bears are searching for a new offensive coordinator, and it appears that one of their top targets decided to go elsewhere.

Former New York Giants head coach Pat Shurmur is expected to become the Denver Broncos’ new offensive coordinator. Shurmur was a name mentioned as a top candidate for the Bears’ vacant offensive coordinator position, given his ties to Matt Nagy and Andy Reid.

Shurmur had plenty of suitors, the Bears among them, but he chose Denver over Chicago and others, according to ESPN’s Jordan Raanan.

Former Giants coach Pat Shurmur chose the Broncos OC job over the Bears and several others, per source. Worth noting that Giants were also high on Drew Lock, his new QB in Denver.

Next former Giants HC to resurface will likely be … Ben McAdoo. Ready to get back in.

— Jordan Raanan (@JordanRaanan) January 12, 2020

A big draw for Shurmur was Broncos quarterback Drew Lock and the young core in place in Denver. That, and Shurmur will have an opportunity to run his offense and call plays, which is something that he wouldn’t have been able to do in Chicago with Nagy in charge of play-calling.

Another name that has been discussed as an offensive coordinator candidate is Kansas City Chiefs quarterbacks coach Mike Kafka, who also has ties to Nagy. Kafka was expected to be promoted to offensive coordinator if Eric Bieniemy got a head coaching position.

With Bieniemy remaining in Kansas City, Kafka has an opportunity to return to his hometown and serve as offensive coordinator for the Bears.