The Bears fired David Walker, their running backs coach of the last year-and-a-half, as a result of workplace conduct.
“It’s disappointing from my vantage point,” coach Matt Eberflus said Wednesday. “But we have a standard to uphold to, and when that standard is not met, we act and we act accordingly, and that’s what we did today.”
Eberflus said the decision was made in concert with president Kevin Warren and general manager Ryan Poles.
“I would say the responsibility is there because I’m the head football coach,” Eberflus said. “I would also say that the standard has to be met, right? And when it’s not met, you make a decision. We did that.”
Walker is the second coach on Matt Eberflus’ staff to leave in 2023. Defensive coordinator Alan Williams resigned suddenly on Sept. 21 and said he was going to “take care of my health and family.” The Sun-Times later confirmed his departure was related to conduct at Halas Hall.
Three sources, including Eberflus, said Walker’s firing was unrelated to Williams’ firing. Having two coaches leave during a six-week span as a result of off-field behavior is concerning nonetheless. Eberflus pushed back, though, claiming the Bears’ culture was “outstanding.”
“The guys work hard every single day,” he said. “The relationship piece is there. We care about each other. We’re working diligently to get this thing turned. We’re 2-2 in our last four. One game was real close, we had a chance at that one. We really feel we’re turning the corner there, and we are excited about this week. But to answer your question, our culture is awesome.”
He omitted the fact that one team they beat, the Commanders, just dumped two of their best players — including defensive end Montez Sweat to the Bears — and the other, the Raiders, fired their head coach overnight.
Eberflus said he informed the Bears’ running backs and then the team’s leadership council Wednesday. Players had Tuesday off.
Eberflus said there were no red flags identified in the hiring process.
“You make your phone calls,” he said. “You do your due diligence. You bring them in for an interview. You have phone conversations. You ask people that are associated, so forth and so on.”
In their first six months of the job, Eberflus and Poles signed three players who were soon arrested: receiver David Moore, who was charged with possession of a controlled substance and a weapon, after falling asleep in a Taco Bell drive-thru; linebacker Matt Adams, who was charged with misdemeanor illegal gun possession and possession of a high-capacity magazine and metal-piercing bullets; and receiver Byron Pringle, who was charged with misdemeanor reckless driving and driving with a suspended license.
Poles decided against drafting Georgia defensive tackle Jalen Carter, though, after he had settled criminal charges relating to a car crash that killed two classmates.
Walker was in his second season with the Bears, having been hired when Eberflus replaced Matt Nagy in 2022. The Bears led the NFL in rushing in his first season with 3,014 yards — with running backs David Montgomery (201 carries, 801 yards, five touchdowns) and Khalil Herbert (129-731, four touchdowns) supporting quarterback Justin Fields’ record-setting rushing season (160-1,143, eight touchdowns).
Despite injuries to running backs Herbert, D’Onta Foreman and rookie Roschon Johnson, the Bears are sixth in rushing this season, averaging 132.8 yards per game.
Bears wide receiver assistant Omar Young will take over Walker’s role, coach Matt Eberflus said. Young was Eastern Illinois’ running backs coach and co-special teams coordinator from 2020-21. He worked alongside offensive coordinator Luke Getsy when the two were with the Packers.
When Williams left, head coach Matt Eberflus took over play-calling duties and eventually hired Phil Snow as a consultant.
