LAKE FOREST, Ill. (670 The Score) – With the Bears mired in turmoil with a 2-6 record and having fired running backs coach David Walker due to misconduct, head coach Matt Eberflus on Wednesday stood by the organization’s culture.
“We're 2-2 in the last (four) games,” Eberflus said. “One game was real close, had a chance at that one. And we really feel we're turning the corner there.
“Our culture is awesome.”
The Bears announced Walker’s firing Wednesday morning, citing his failure to meet personal standards. Eberflus declined to reveal specifics about why Walker was fired, only pointing out that his departure was a collective organizational decision involving general manager Ryan Poles, president Kevin Warren and ownership.
Bears offensive assistant Omar Young will step into Walker's role as running backs coach.
“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 in reading a prepared statement on Walker's dismissal. "I'm not going to get into details other than he's no longer on the staff.”
Walker is the second Bears assistant coach to suddenly depart the organization this season. On Sept. 20, defensive coordinator Alan Williams abruptly resigned from his role, citing family and health reasons. Williams' resignation was due to inappropriate behavior, ESPN later reported, and the Bears' human resources department was involved in his exit.
The Bears' human resources department was also involved in Walker's firing. There was no connection between Walker’s exit and Williams’ conduct, Eberflus said.
The Bears have struggled mightily on the field in Eberflus' second season in Chicago and dealt with several off-field issues as well.
On the same day Williams resigned, quarterback Justin Fields cited coaching as part of the reason for what he felt was his “robotic” play and asked the staff to make adjustments to the offensive scheme. Those comments created local and national headlines. The Bears also traded disgruntled receiver Chase Claypool to the Dolphins in early October after he made critical comments about the coaching staff.
The embattled Eberflus is 5-20 in his Bears tenure and is under pressure to save his job. Now, he has had to address a second member of his coaching staff departing during a turbulent season.
"It’s disappointing from my vantage point," Eberflus said. "But we have a standard to uphold to. When that standard is not met, we act. We act accordingly, and that’s what we did today.
"The culture in our building is outstanding.”
Chris Emma covers the Bears, Chicago’s sports scene and more for 670TheScore.com. Follow him on Twitter @CEmma670.