00:00 Bears defensive coordinator Allen Williams resigns.
00:03 Chicago Bears defensive coordinator Allen Williams resigned on Wednesday,
00:09 saying he needs to tend to himself and his family.
00:12 "I am taking a step back to take care of my health and my family," he said in the statement.
00:18 "I appreciate the opportunity to work with the Chicago Bears,
00:23 a storied NFL franchise with a rich history."
00:27 Williams' resignation comes just two games into his second season with the Bears.
00:31 He missed last week's loss at Tampa Bay for what the team said were personal reasons
00:38 after working the opener against Green Bay.
00:40 Coach Matt Eberfluss called the defense in Williams' absence and figures to do so again
00:46 when the Bears visit Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday.
00:50 Williams thanked the McCaskey family as well as Eberfluss,
00:55 general manager Ryan Puls and president Kevin Warren.
00:58 He also vowed to coach again.
01:01 "I value the NFL shield and all that it stands for, and after taking some time to address my
01:08 health, I plan to come back and coach again," he said.
01:12 Earlier in the day, Eberfluss shed little light on the situation,
01:17 saying he didn't have any update right now when asked if Williams still had a job.
01:23 He gave similar answers when asked if he anticipates Williams returning this season
01:28 and if the two have spoken.
01:29 Williams' departure leaves an obvious hole in the coaching staff.
01:34 It raises questions about whether Eberfluss can spend enough time
01:39 tending to a struggling offense while leading the defense.
01:42 Eberfluss said the Bears can get by without a defensive coordinator and doesn't see it
01:48 becoming problematic because of the experience of his staff.
01:52 "I think with the experience that we have on defense, I don't think that's an issue," he said.
01:58 Chicago hired Williams in February 2022,
02:02 shortly after Eberfluss got the Bears' head coaching job.
02:06 Williams spent four seasons as Indianapolis' safeties coach while Eberfluss was the coach's
02:12 defensive coordinator. It was his second stint with Indianapolis after coaching defensive backs
02:19 for 10 seasons from 2002 to 2011. Williams was Minnesota's defensive coordinator in 2012 and 2013.
02:29 He has more than three decades of coaching experience.
02:33 "I hope he's OK. I hope everything's all good, but when you get to the building it's just focus
02:39 on the job first," defensive tackle Andrew Billings said. "When you come here everything
02:45 else out of the building leaves and you focus on what's important and that's the next game."
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