The Chicago Bears may be without defensive coordinator Alan Williams for another week, if he’s even still the team’s defensive coordinator at all. Head coach Matt Eberflus met with the media on Wednesday and was asked about the status of Williams, who has been away from the team for the last week with a personal matter. Eberflus was oddly coy with his answers.
“I do not have an update on Alan Williams right now,” Eberflus said when asked by CHGO’s Nicholas Moreano if the defensive coordinator would return this season. Mark Potash of the Chicago Sun-Times followed up by asking if Williams was still the defensive coordinator, and Eberflus repeated his statement. The Bigs’ Herb Howard asked if Eberflus had spoken to Williams, and once again, the head coach declined to answer.
Buy Bears Tickets#Bears coach Matt Eberflus said "I do not have an update on Alan Williams right now."
— Brad Biggs (@BradBiggs) September 20, 2023
The hope is that Williams is okay with whatever issue he’s currently dealing with, but it’s curious that Eberflus won’t answer whether or not he’s even still the team’s defensive coordinator at this point. Eberflus took over defensive play-calling last week in Williams’ absence in the 27-17 loss vs. the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He will likely do that again this week if Williams remains out.
Williams has been the team’s defensive coordinator since 2022, when he followed Eberflus to Chicago from the Indianapolis Colts. Under his coaching, the defense has totaled just 21 sacks, 14 interceptions, and 16 forced fumbles. The unit struggled against the Green Bay Packers in Week 1 and didn’t look much better in Week 2 with Eberflus calling plays.
The Bears take on the Kansas City Chiefs and their potent offense in Week 3, and it’s anyone’s guess as to whether Williams will be back for that game or not.
