Bears Fire Running Backs Coach David Walker

A second change has come to Matt Eberflus' Bears coaching staff and along with it came questions about culpability and the team's hiring process.

Running backs coach David Walker was let go Wednesday by the team.

Eberflus confirmed the firing on Wednesday.

"As the head coach, we are building a program and have standards to uphold to as a staff and organization both on and off the field, and those standards were not met," Eberflus said. "I'm not gonna get into details other than he's no longer on the staff."

After the Week 2 loss to Tampa Bay, Bears defensive coordinator Alan Williams resigned and the team announced its human resources department was involved with the move but did not reveal the circumstances leading to it.

According to a report by The Athletic, Walker's firing also involved the human resources department. ESPN reported Walker had already been reprimanded for workplace behavior.

Eberflus took responsibility for his staff.

"I would say that the responsibility is there because I'm the head football coach, but I would also say that the standard has to be met and when it's not met you make a decision and we did that."

Eberflus said the situation is unrelated to Williams' situation, but bristled when questioned if there was a culture problem within his staff.

"Absolutely not," he said. "The culture in our building is outstanding. The guys work hard every single day. 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 (19-13 loss to Minnesota), 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."

The Bears are 2-6 and under Eberflus are 5-20 in two seasons. Eberflus called the firing disappointing.

"But we have a standard to uphold to, he said. "When that standard is not met we act. We act accordingly and that's what we did today."

Walker has been in coaching for 26 years and it was his second season with the team. He had been an assistant with the Colts, Lions and Panthers, as well.

Eberflus defended and described his hiring process for assistants.

"Yeah, the evaluation process is just what it is," he said. "You make your phone calls. 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. So that's what it is."

Eberflus is satisfied with the process they use in hiring coaches.

"I would just say that we take pride in that," he said. "We take pride in vetting the guys–player, coach, staff. We take pride in that. Again, when the standards aren't met, we take action and that's where it is."

He said there were no red flags in his process of hiring Walker.

The situation was brought before players in a Wednesday meeting and Eberflus feels it will not affect the team negatively.

"The guys were, obviously, I got to the running back guys first and then worked from there," Eberflus said. "Talked to the leadership council.

"Our guys are resilient. They really are. They are tough-minded. They've been through adversity. The culture is great here. Our guys work their tails off and you guys see the locker room, you know what it's like. It is where it is and guys move forward."

Eberflus called it a case where the firing decision was made by himself in conjunction with the entire organization.

"We're all disappointed," Eberflus said. "It's never good when this has to happen. Certainly a disappointment. But I do know this, adversity does make you stronger in your personal life, in your team life, it does make you stronger. It's just how you come through it. It's how you respond to it."

Assistant quarterbacks and receivers coach Omar Young has taken over the responsibility of coaching the running backs. He has been a quality control coach with the Packers and was a running backs and co-special teams coordinator at Eastern Illinois University earlier in his career.