Cowboys Coach Denies Caleb Williams Film Rumor
Matt Eberflus returned to the Dallas Cowboys as a defensive coordinator after previously being with the organization from 2011-2017. That time away included a stint as the head coach of the Chicago Bears from 2022-2024. He was fired after Chicago's Thanksgiving Day loss to the Detroit Lions in Week 13.
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The Bears' 2024 was spotlighted by a turbulent rookie season from No. 1 overall pick and starting quarterback Caleb Williams. This offseason, things got even more hairy after rumors about the details of Williams' young career leaked.
ESPN's Seth Wickersham alleged that Williams had spent a lot of the season watching film on his own, with very little guidance from Eberflus or new offensive coordinator Shane Waldron. Waldron - brought in solely to assist the defensive-minded head coach in Williams' development - was fired shortly before Eberflus last season.
Speaking with Cowboys writers Ed Werder and Matt Mosley, Eberflus addressed the situation for the first time, keeping things brief and forthright.
'I would say this. In the development of the quarterback position – and, really, all positions at my time with the Bears – we've always had daily coached film sessions,' Eberflus said. 'That was all through the entire year. That's what I observed and that's where it was.'
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Werder also brought up Eberflus' relationship with iconic college football coach Nick Saban from their time at Toledo. He reference Saban's "hands-on" approach to young quarterback development, to which Eberflus agreed, but did not have much else to say.
'That's really all I have to say about it,' Eberflus said. 'That's what it is.'
For Williams, this was the latest in a trend of headline-grabbing storylines that served as distractions to this offseason.
Also from Wickersham's book titled American Kings: A Biography of the Quarterback, an excerpt accused Williams and his father of allegedly trying to finagle a way out of being selected first by the Bears in the 2024 NFL Draft, which of course, eventually still happened.
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Williams began a minicamp press conference addressing the situation in a long-winded elaboration of his appreciation to play in Chicago, but the statement did little in helping fans move on.
Eberflus, however, may be thankful to be transitioning to a team with a better quarterback situation. Eberflus noted how Dak Prescott actually had a hand in his decision-making to return to Dallas.
He will also assume a more comfortable defense-first job rather than be tasked with everything as a head coach. He has offered pointers to first-year boss Brian Schottenheimer, but this position for Eberflus should provide a fresh slate after his forgetful tenure in Chicago.
Judging by his comments here, he's choosing to push those memories into the wind to be swept away forever.
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Related: 'Nervous' Cowboys Coach Reveals 'At Peace' Moment
Related: Troubled Cowboys Ex Issues Stunning Statement About Antonio Brown Arrest
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 15, 2025, where it first appeared.
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