8:45pm: Amid the presence of some fairly wild speculations, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com, among others, have strived to set the record straight. According to Rapoport, rumors that Williams was involved in something that attracted the attention of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and that his absence and resignation are not health-related are completely unfounded.
Rapoport went on air to contradict the reports that claim the FBI conducted a raid of Halas Hall, the Bears’ headquarters, today. He also denied that the NFL had any interest in getting involved in Williams’ situation, which would have been a possible sign of misconduct or malpractice that could result in discipline. Finally, he disregarded the rumor that Charles Tillman, who is in all actuality an FBI agent, was involved in Williams’ departure in any way. It is unclear from where these rumors stemmed, but respected reporters are doing their due diligence to try and snuff them out before they get out of hand.
3:20pm: Alan Williams‘ Week 2 absence will lead to the veteran assistant leaving the Bears. The second-year Chicago defensive coordinator resigned his post Wednesday, according to the team.
Williams, 53, stepped away from the Bears two days before their Week 2 game against the Buccaneers. This led to Matt Eberflus calling the defensive signals. The Bears will need to determine how they divvy up Williams’ duties going forward, with this abrupt departure certainly bringing an unexpected challenge for Eberflus and Co.
“I am taking a step back to take care of my health and family,” Williams said in a statement. “I appreciate the opportunity to work with the Chicago Bears, a storied NFL franchise with a rich history. The McCaskey family is first-class and second to none. I would also like to thank Coach Matt Eberflus and General Manager Ryan Poles for giving me the opportunity to come to Chicago.
“I value the NFL shield and all that it stands for and after taking some time to address my health, I plan to come back and coach again.”
Eberflus is expected to continue calling the Bears’ defensive plays, CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones tweets. The former Colts DC held this responsibility from 2018-21 in Indianapolis, and the Colts ranked as a top-10 scoring defense in three of those years, earning Eberflus HC attention. Williams had served as the Colts’ safeties coach during Frank Reich‘s first four years at the helm in Indianapolis, and he followed Eberflus to return to a coordinator role.
The Bears gig represented Williams’ second chance as a defensive coordinator. He served in that capacity under Leslie Frazier with the Vikings from 2012-13. Williams has spent most of his NFL career working with Tony Dungy and then Jim Caldwell. The Colts’ DBs coach for 10 years (from 2002-11), Williams collected a Super Bowl ring and closed out his tenure during Caldwell’s three years in charge. He then rejoined Caldwell as the Lions’ DBs coach in 2014, staying on throughout the former’s four-year Detroit tenure.
Last season, the Bears slunk to last place in scoring defense. The team traded Khalil Mack in March and then dealt Robert Quinn before the deadline, while moving on from other Vic Fangio– and Chuck Pagano-era mainstays as well. Eddie Jackson also went down with an injury during Chicago’s losing streak that ended up securing the franchise the No. 1 overall pick. Through two games this season, the Bears rank 31st defensively.
Who is next, the OC? Fields is awful.
Williams had a personal issue that lead to his resignation.
They also signed a G and cut Peterman. So I say let the Tyson Bagent era begin. I would suggest the Bears sign Coral as they already lead the league in Players and Coaches with personal problems. Might as well go all in. I can hear the play by play now. Coral throws the ball and wait folks he’s running into the tunnel and getting into his car. It appears he has a ” Personal Problem”. Stay tuned. At least with Bagent he would throw the ball before every player on the other team hits him first.
The FBI is investigating the rumor that there was actually a pro football team in Chicago. So far the investigation has yielded nothing to support this rumor.
Great use of taxpayers money. Does the agency actually have agents brilliant enough to solve that mystery?
Fbi has needed to be disbanded ever since they literally sent agents to investigate a NASCAR garage door handle as a sign of a hate crime.
Personal Issue = Being investigated by the FBI.
Bears have released a statement saying that is false.
Never shoulda gone to that protest rally at the capitol
I wonder if he was Moonlighting at Mar-A Lago?
Don’t be stupid
Too late.
Stay tuned this story going to get very interesting very soon can I say FBI ? The Bears season about to explode
Can you not say something stupid
I don’t know what his personal problem is and I don’t really have an opinion on it. All I care about is his style of defense the bend don’t break, Don’t blitz read react style of defense he teaches sucks. It’s not the way the Bears have played defense in my lifetime and is boring the crap out of the fan base. It’s the biggest problem with the Bears but definitely not the only one. Eberflus better pick somebody who know how to get pressure on the QB and can do it fast. You can tell by the players attitudes they can’t stand it either. I wish Williams the best, But I’m not sorry to see him go. I doubt it could get any worse, But I’ve been wrong before.
Blitz and leave the secondary exposed? Try that with Mahomes please
Rush 4 and let Mahomes sit back there forever and see what happens to you. In case you missed it they made Baker Mayfield and Jordan Love look like Mahomes. Imagine what Mahomes will look like.
Just blitz and leave the secondary exposed, our offense needs more reps, may as well get KCs offense off the field fast with explosive scores……this Alan Williams story is gonna inject doubt about this organization from the top, everything they are denying makes me basically sure he did that
So Williams resigns apparently in shame-Stay tuned. Fields tosses his Coordinator completely under the bus, As he should- Stay tuned. The Bears cut their backup QB and sign a G. Huh? They put their LT who hasn’t missed a snap ever- Stay tuned. The GM says…….Absolutely nothing. Huh? You know I was gonna spare myself watching this Sunday. But it’s like people who watch a NASCAR race to see the accidents. I think I gotta watch now. Crap- They sucked me back in. Stay Tuned.
Sorry- put their LT on IR. My bad.
UncleMike, the “Bend, don’t break” concept was Lovie Smith’s defensive philosophy the whole time he was here. So yes, the Bears did play with that philosophy. But I agree with you, I hate it.
I think the Bears should show Lovie Smith some gratitude for ensuring they got the first overall draft pick and at least offer him an interview.
At least I gain 3 hours a week that I can find something constructive to do. You Lemon?
I have enough vision problems without subjecting my eyes to those horrible alternate jerseys the Bears wear.
So many investigative experts with so much speculation. The truth might shock or just be mundane everyday ‘life’.
But for the sake of entertainment at another’s expense let conjectures continue!
Ya the feds never do wild stuff
Don’t be stupid
Jim Harbaugh may be available as HC, hire him. This organization deserves better than these crappy HCs they’ve hired in these last 10 years.
Harbaugh would get naked and allow a buckeye to be tattooed on his butt before he would ever take a coaching job with the Bears.
And why do you say that??