NEWSLETTER
The Chicago Bears were productive last week as they filled some important coaching positions. They began the week by hiring Shane Waldron to replace Luke Getsy as the team’s offensive coordinator. Waldron wasted little time in hiring Quarterbacks Coach Kerry Joseph to his staff on Friday. And on Saturday, the team announced Eric Washington as their new defensive coordinator. Washington fills the void Alan Williams left behind when he resigned in late September.
To be clear, Washington won’t be calling plays in Chicago. That responsibility will (once again) fall into the hands of Head Coach Matt Eberflus. For what it’s worth, Chicago’s defense looked its best when Eberflus was calling the shots. So if it ain’t broke, then why fix it?
Let’s get to know the new Chicago Bears DC.
Who is Eric Washington?
In Eric Washington, the Chicago Bears are getting someone who has worked under some of the NFL’s best defensive coaches. He was with Lovie Smith (2008-10), Ron Rivera (2011-19), and Sean McDermott (2020-23). With all due respect to Matt Eberflus, the Bears head coach might be the least-decorated coach Washington has worked under. Again, that isn’t to knock Coach Flus. Instead, it is to underscore how respected defensive-leaning coaches have kept Washington around. For me, it says a lot about Washington’s coaching abilities that he has plenty of experience working with guys like Rivera and McDermott.
And now, he is bringing his talents back to Chicago — where he worked under Lovie Smith and Ron Rivera. We love a good homecoming story around here.
Relevant Experience
The Fit
What makes Washington an ideal fit for the DC position is his experience coaching defensive linemen. My biggest takeaway from watching Eberflus’ defense is that getting it right along the defensive line is of the utmost importance. If the front four can generate pressure, disrupt the backfield, and sack the quarterback, then everything works off that and it allows the other seven defenders to shine. Think about it. After Montez Sweat’s arrival, we saw Bears linebackers T.J. Edwards and Tremaine Edmunds play their best ball. The same can be said about defensive backs such as Jaylon Johnson, Kyler Gordon, Tyrique Stevenson, and Jaquan Brisker. It all starts with the bigs up front.
Sweat is the big-money playmaker, so it’s not as if he needs assistance from a coach. But Washington’s arrival could be pivotal in the development of youngsters such as Gervon Dexter Sr., Zacch Pickens, Dominique Robinson, and perhaps a draft pick to be named later. To that end, Washington is an ideal hire for this team. Now, the Bears have three defensive assistants (Washington, DL Coach Travis Smith, Assistant DL Coach Justin Hinds) who will be working with the position group that is arguably most vital to Coach Eberflus’ scheme’s success.
This is a good data pull from Jacob Infante:
The 2023 Chicago Bears finished with just 30 sacks. And while that is 10 more than they had in 2022, it still represents the second-fewest in football. If Washington can help get the Bears to the middle of the pack in 2024, then we’ll look back at this hire and smile. Anything more and we might throw a party.
They Said It
“We are excited to announce that Eric Washington will be joining our team as the defensive coordinator,” said Bears Head Coach Matt Eberflus, via the team’s official web site. “He is a great communicator with elite leadership skills and he will enhance our current defensive staff. His track record speaks for itself with coordinator experience as well as expertise in the area of defensive line. I want to thank the other outstanding candidates that applied for this position.”
My Two Cents
Because of Eric Washington’s ties to Ron Rivera, my hope is that the 2024 version of Matt Eberflus’ defense will look like the 2006 version of Lovie Smith’s defense. Ideally, Washington is to Eberflus what Rivera was to Lovie. A yin to one’s yang. Someone who brings new ideas to the table. A coach who is willing to put a fresh twist on old thoughts. There were times when Eberflus’ defense was too soft. Perhaps putting new eyes on old problems will help the Bears in 2024.
I am a little irked that the offensive coordinator search appeared to be more thorough than the one for the defensive coordinator opening. Nine different candidates interviewed to be the Bears OC in 2024, while only four candidates were publicly name-checked for the defensive coordinator spot. But it isn’t about how many people you interview. Instead, it is about interviewing and hiring the right candidate. Talking to a bunch of people and picking the wrong one does right by no one. With that being said, I’m hoping that this is the right hire for Chicago.
We won’t know until after games are played if Washington was the right hire. However, I can see why Washington is a sensible addition. The Bears could use another set of eyes on the defense and another experienced defensive line coach assisting in the development of some key players. And by hiring Washington, they’ve done that. I see the plan. Now comes the execution.
