The Chicago Bears’ defensive coordinator Alan Williams has abruptly left his employment in order to devote more time to his “health and family.”
Williams missed Chicago’s Sunday trip to Florida, where the Bears were trounced 27-17 by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and gave personal reasons for doing so.
After a little more than 15 months with the team, Williams has now formally resigned from his post.
Williams released a statement on Wednesday in which he expressed his remorse in resigning from his position as defensive coordinator of the Chicago Bears football team. “I’m taking a break to focus on my family and my health,” the speaker said.
“I valued the chance to work with the Chicago Bears, a renowned NFL team with a long history. The Bears’ owners, the McCaskey family, are exceptional in every way. Additionally, I want to thank Ryan Poles, the general manager, and coach Matt Eberflus for providing me the chance to visit Chicago.
With more than three decades of coaching expertise, Williams was chosen by the Bears in February 2022. He was a member of the Indianapolis Colts coaching staff that won Super Bowl XLI in 2007 as the defensive backs coach.
Williams indicated his willingness to coach once more in the future in his remark.
I like the NFL shield and everything it stands for, he declared. “I plan to return and coach again after taking some time to address my health.”
Matt Eberflus, the head coach of the Bears, said to reporters that he had “no update” on the matter but did not provide further details.
Eberflus, 53, took over calling defensive plays against the Buccaneers on Sunday and intends to do the same when the Bears travel to Kansas City to play Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs this weekend.
Williams served as his assistant as the safeties coach during his second stint in Indianapolis, when Eberflus served as the Colts’ defensive coordinator from 2018 to 2021.
And according to Eberflus, the Bears will be able to function without a defensive coordinator for the time being because of their defense’s depth of knowledge.
The quarterback Justin Fields, the wide receiver Chase Claypool, and Eberflus have all received criticism for the Bears’ shaky start to the season, which has left them at 0-2.
Additionally, Fields has made it clear that he and the Bears coaching staff do not share the same viewpoints. He responded that it “could be coaching” when questioned about what was driving him to overthink during games and give what he calls “robotic” performances.
The Bears lost their 12th straight game against Tampa Bay on Sunday, continuing a losing streak that began in October 2022. They will be eager to halt this streak, which is presently the longest in the NFL but will have a difficult time doing so on Sunday against the reigning champion.