Courtney Cronin, ESPN Team of workers Essayist
CHICAGO – The Chicago Bears rented Eric Washington as their defensive coordinator, a supply showed to ESPN.
Washington, 54, fills the emptiness that used to be created by means of Alan Williams’ escape forward of Presen 2 ultimate season. Bears lecturer Matt Eberflus took over defensive play games calling tasks and is anticipated to proceed calling Chicago’s protection in 2024.
Washington has spent 20 seasons as an NFL lecturer, together with the ultimate 4 with Buffalo. He involves Chicago nearest serving because the Expenses’ laborer head lecturer and defensive sequence lecturer all through the 2023 season. Buffalo’s protection allowed the fourth fewest issues (18.7) in step with recreation and generated the fourth-most sacks (54) in 2023.
Washington is the 3rd addition to the Bears training personnel this moment nearest Chicago rented offensive coordinator Shane Waldron and quarterbacks lecturer Kerry Joseph.
All the way through his season-ending press convention on Jan. 10, Eberflus mentioned his ultimate defensive coordinator candidate is somebody who “can be in front of the room when I’m not in there, when I’m with the offense or preparing for something else and working in other areas of the building.”
“You’re looking for an All-Star staff on both sides,” Eberflus mentioned. “Dynamic, guys that can take from the classroom to the drill work and then really put that on the field. In that position, it’s going to be tying that together. Of course in working with me to do that, as well.”
This might be Washington’s 2nd stint with the Bears. He prior to now labored beneath Lovie Smith as a defensive laborer from 2008-09 and coached Chicago’s defensive sequence in 2010. He after spent the upcoming 9 seasons operating in Carolina beneath Ron Rivera, the Bears former defensive coordinator.
Washington will guard a protection that ranked Deny. 1 towards the run (86.4 yards in step with recreation) and used to be connect for the league top with 22 interceptions in 2023. In spite of an important defensive turnaround nearest the purchase of edge rusher Montez Sweat on the industry time limit, the Bears will proceed to concentrate on bettering their go accelerate this season nearest completing connect for the sixth-lowest force proportion as a group (18.8%) and 2nd fewest sacks (30).
The NFL Community used to be first to file Washington’s rent by means of the Bears.
