Most of the attention for the new Chicago Bears coaching staff will be focused on the offensive side of the ball. Not a big surprise given how vital the development of Justin Fields will be moving forward. However, Matt Eberflus has to focus on all three phases. One of the most interesting hires he is going to make is the defensive coordinator. The guy that would run his preferred style of defense that had so much success in Indianapolis. One name has now emerged on that front is Alan Williams according to Albert Breer of the MMQB.
It is by no means a surprise. Williams was Eberflus’ defensive backs coach over the previous four seasons. He would have a better understanding than most on the type of system the Bears head coach wants to run. The man is highly experienced in going back two decades. He broke into the NFL with Tampa Bay at just 32-years old in 2001. A year later he became the secondary coach in Indianapolis, a job he would hold for almost a decade. It was his secondary that basically won the Colts that Super Bowl against the Bears in 2006. Nobody can forget the Bob Sanders forced fumble or the Kelvin Hayden pick-six.
The Colts will interview ex-Jaguars DC Joe Cullen for their defensive coordinator job tomorrow, per sources. Indy is looking at a number of outside candidates to bring in.
Meanwhile, the Bears will interview Colts safeties coach Alan Williams (among others) for their DC job.
— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) January 28, 2022
Williams does have coordinating experience too.
He held the job for two seasons with the Minnesota Vikings in 2012 and 2013. His first year the unit actually made notable improvements from the prior one, going from 31st in points allowed to 14th. The pass rush finished with 44 sacks and the team was 11th against the run. Unfortunately, things fell apart the next year. The Vikings finished dead last in points allowed and 31st in total defense. As a result, the coaching staff was fired after the season.
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To his credit, Alan Williams wasn’t down for long. He ended up in Detroit in 2014 as their defensive backs coach, helping the Lions reach the playoffs twice in three years. All of this while guys like Glover Quin and Darius Slay became Pro Bowlers under his watch. There is no denying the man is a capable coach. Whether he can be a strong defensive coordinator in a second opportunity remains to be seen.
One thing is for sure. He’s made life hell for Bears fans going back a number of years. It would be nice to see him do those things for this team instead.
