Bears Add Former Colts Coach Williams As Defensive Coordinator

CHICAGO — New Chicago Bears coach Matt Eberflus has already announced that unlike his predecessor, he has no plans in taking on a role normally handled by one of his top assistant coaches.

Eberflus, who was previously the defensive coordinator for the Indianapolis Colts before being named as Matt Nagy’s replacement, said this week he will be too busy coaching to call the defense this fall. So, on Tuesday, the Bears announced that one of Eberflus’ former Colts colleagues will join the new staff as Alan Williams was named the Bears’ new defensive coordinator.

Williams has worked as the Colts safeties coach for the past three seasons when the Colts defense showed marked improvement under Eberflus. Williams, 52, has previous defensive coordinator experience with the Minnesota Vikings in 2012 and 2013. The first season was the unit’s best under Williams’ direction as the Vikings ranked fifth in the NFL in sacks and 16th in yards allowed and 14th in points allowed.

In his introductory press conference on Monday, Eberflus said that the Bears defense would be attacking and tenacious and would take a group approach to forcing turnovers. He said that overall, his team will play with passion and with energy, speed and athleticism as the Bears attempt to get back on track.

But he said the team's new defensive coordinator will be the person overseeing the unit on Game Day.

"To be he head football coach and to be efficient at that, you are exactly the head football coach so I can be involved in all aspects of the game," Eberflus said Monday. "So the defensive coordinator we hire will call all of the defensive plays."

Williams wasn’t the only former Colts assistant who will join Eberflus’ staff with the Bears. The team also announced on Wednesday that former Indianapolis linebackers coach Dave Borgonzi will join the Bears in the same role. Borgonzi worked under Eberflus for the past four seasons after working previously in Tampa Bay in Dallas.

The Bears also announced that Chris Morgan will serve as the Bears offensive line coach after working in the same role with the Pittsburgh Steelers last season. Morgan worked previously with the Falcons, Seahawks, in Washington and with the Oakland Raiders.

The Bears previously announced that Luke Getsy, who had been working as the Green Bay Packers' passing coordinator would take over as Eberflus' offensive coordinator.

Colts coach Frank Reich told reporters in a conference call on Tuesday that he believes that Williams will provide key leadership for the Bears defense, which will shift from a 3-4 look to a 4-3 approach under Eberflus. Reich said that Williams brings good energy to a staff and that he will provide pivotal leadership to a defense that Eberflus wants to return to the aggressive roots past Bears’ defensive units have exhibited.

“Alan has really good command of the whole picture,” Reich told reporters. “He is fast on his feet as a thinker.”