Chicago Bears Hire Former Morehouse And Grambling State Player As Defensive Coordinator
HOUSTON - The Chicago Bears have hired Eric Washington as their new defensive coordinator. Washington is an alumnus of Grambling State University and previously served as the assistant head and defensive line coach for the Buffalo Bills from 2020 to 2021.
The 17-year veteran coach is no stranger to the Bears organization, having previously worked as a defensive assistant before being promoted to the defensive line coach position in 2010.
The Shreveport native graduated from Northwood High School. He attended and played for Morehouse College his freshman year before transferring to Grambling State University.
Oct 8, 2023; London United Kingdom, Buffalo Bills defensive line coach Eric Washington reacts in the second half against the Jacksonville Jaguars during an NFL International Series game at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
He has held positions as a coach at the following schools and professional teams:
- Texas A&M (1997) Assistant coach
- Ohio (2001–2003) Assistant coach
- Northwestern (2004–2007) Defensive line coach
- Chicago Bears (2008–2009) Defensive assistant
- Chicago Bears (2010) Defensive line coach
- Carolina Panthers (2011–2017) Defensive line coach
- Carolina Panthers (2018–2019) Defensive coordinator
- Buffalo Bills (2020–2021) Defensive line coach
- Buffalo Bills (2022) Senior defensive assistant/defensive line coach
- Buffalo Bills (2023) Assistant head coach/defensive line coach
- Chicago Bears (2024–present) Defensive coordinator
Since his hiring in 2022, Head Coach Matt Eberflus has achieved a record of 10-24. He previously served as the defense coach for the Indianapolis Colts, where he trained linebacker Shaquille Leonard from South Carolina State.
Under Eberflus' guidance, Leonard won the AP Rookie of the Year award and was named to multiple AP All-Pro teams and NFL Pro Bowls.
