According to various sources, the Chicago Bears are hiring Eric Washington, the Buffalo Bills’ defensive line coach, as their new defensive coordinator.
Washington, 54, joined the Bills’ coaching staff in 2020 after spending seven seasons with the Carolina Panthers. Before last season, Bills coach Sean McDermott promoted Washington to assistant head coach after taking over as defensive coordinator when Leslie Frazier resigned.
Washington’s first three seasons as an NFL coach were in Chicago from 2008 to 2010.
According to Tom Pelissero of NFL.com, Chicago coach Matt Eberflus will continue to call the Bears defense’s plays.
The Bills’ defensive line has been heavily critiqued over the previous week following their performance in a 27-24 Divisional round loss to the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday. According to Pro Football Reference, the Bills were unable to sack Patrick Mahomes once during the game and recorded only six pressures as a team. When the two teams met in December, the Bills pressured Mahomes 11 times and fired him once.
Last season, the Bills’ defensive line was again an issue as they were eliminated at home by the Cincinnati Bengals. Buffalo didn’t sack Joe Burrow once during that game.
McDermott was asked about Washington’s lack of productivity earlier this week.
“Could we have played or coached better?” He answered, “Absolutely.” “And we look closely at that. I believe that the lessons you gain from that experience will benefit you in the future.”
Washington isn’t the only coach who could leave the Bills this offseason. Bobby Babich, the linebackers coach, has reportedly been asked to interview with the Miami Dolphins, Green Bay Packers, and New York Giants for their vacant defensive coordinator positions. Babich is a promising young coach who has been with the Bills since 2017, when McDermott took charge. To keep Babich in Buffalo, the team will most likely have to offer him a position as defensive coordinator.
Marcus West was hired as the Bills’ assistant defensive line coach prior to the 2022 season. It is unknown whether they will seek to fill Washington’s position internally or outside of the corporation. Jacques Cesaire, a former Bills assistant defensive line coach, signed on Friday to become the Cleveland Browns’ defensive line coach.
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