LAKE FOREST, IL — Chicago Bears running backs coach David Walker was fired Wednesday, becoming the second member of head coach Matt Eberflus’ staff to depart the team in six weeks. Both departures have reportedly involved the Bears human resources department.
“Alright, so, David Walker, with the support of Ryan [Poles], Kevin [Warren] and ownership, we have made the decision this morning that our running back coach, Coach Walker, has been relieved of his duties,” Eberflus told reporters.
“As the head coach we are building on a program and have standards to uphold to as a staff and an organization both on and off the field, and those standards were not met. I’m not going to get into details other than he’s no longer on the staff,” he said.
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Omar Young, the assistant coach for wide receivers and quarterbacks, will take over Walker’s role, Eberflus said.
“We have expectations here and this comes from me, Kevin (Warren), George (McCaskey) and Matt [Eberflus,]” Poles said. “If you don’t meet those expectations of how you move around the building, how you treat people, how you talk to people (and) how you act, you don’t belong here.”
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The Bears (2-6) travel to New Orleans to play the Saints (4-4) on Sunday.
In late September, former defensive coordinator Alan Williams resigned after skipping a game for what team officials described as personal reasons. At the time, Williams issued a statement saying he was “taking a step back to take care of my health and my family.”
But following his departure, team sources briefed reporters that Williams’ departure was related to his conduct, and that he resigned after the team human resources department was called in to address “inappropriate behavior.”
Walker, 53, started his coaching career in Miami before returning to Syracuse University, where he played running back, coaching at the University of Pittsburgh and starting his NFL coaching career in 2011, according to his team biography. The Rochester, New York, native joined the Bears last year.
On Wednesday, Eberflus said there were no red flags in Walker’s background and denied there were any culture issues on his coaching staff
“Our culture is awesome,” he said.
Eberflus, who said he was disappointed in Walker’s firing, was asked if he was the one responsible for hiring two people who are not longer with the team nine weeks into the season.
“I would say that the responsibility is there because I’m the head football coach, but I would also say that the standard, right, has to be met and when it’s not met, you know, you make a decision, and we did that,” the coach said.
“Do you feel like you erred in your evaluation of the coaches that have left?” Eberflus was asked.
“I would say that, like I said, we’re just, we take pride in that, OK?” Eberflus said. “And , you know, again, actions are actions and we got to take action for that.”
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