Most of the coaches who ran the Bears this season aren’t getting hired at the same level by their new teams. Defensive coordinator Eric Washington is headed to the Jets as defensive line coach, CBS reported.
Washington, 55, was hired as defensive coordinator last year under former coach Matt Eberflus. Eberflus initially hired Alan Williams, who resigned after one season and has been out of the league since, then turned to Washington.
Washington took over as defensive play caller when Eberflus got fired. Over those five games, the Bears went 1-4 and allowed 130 points.
Washington has extensive experience coaching the defensive line. He was Northwestern’s defensive line coach from 2004 to ’07 before his first stint with the Bears from 2008 to ’10. He also was the Panthers’ defensive coordinator in 2018 and ’19.
The Cowboys hired Eberflus as defensive coordinator this week. Former offensive coordinator Shane Waldron remains out of the league, and interim coach Thomas Brown reportedly is joining the Patriots as passing-game coordinator.
New Bears coach Ben Johnson retained special teams coordinator Richard Hightower and hired offensive coordinator Declan Doyle and defensive coordinator Dennis Allen.