While all of the focus has been on Matt Eberlus' departure and the naming of offensive coordinator Thomas Brown as acting Bears head coach, the real change involve the other side of the football.
Eberflus called the defensive signals for the Bears, and had been doing it since the resignation of former Bears defensive coordinator Alan Williams in Week 2 of the 2023 season.
So the Bears will need a new defensive play caller. Although they haven't officially announced it, defensive coordinator Eric Washington would be the logical candidate.
DC fired 2023
— Olin kreutz (@olin_kreutz) November 29, 2024
OC fired 2024
Another OC fired 2024
HC/DC fired 2024
4 play callers fired ♂️♂️♂️♂️ pic.twitter.com/PfY3WyZ9DE
The Bears enjoyed getting Washington on their coaching staff as coordinator because of his reputation for working with defensive lines but he has very little experience as a defensive play caller.
Linebackers coach Dave Borgonzi any of the other defensive assistants like Jon Hoke or safeties coach Andre Carter have more experience with the particular defensive scheme, although they'd be lacking the defensive coordinator credentials as well.
This was my dream scenario. Thomas Brown reminds me of Mike Tomlin, he's a leader of men. If he does well the rest of the way I think it's an easy choice. Eric Washington also auditioning to be the actual DC. I'm pretty sure the special teams coach is on his way out also.
— Art (@bigwhitetruck45) November 29, 2024
It's not that Washington hasn't called plays in the NFL. He just wasn't allowed to continue doing it when he hadn't necessarily been bad at it.
Washington became defensive coordinator and signal caller at the start of the 2018 season when Ron Rivera was Carolina Panthers head coach. Rivera took back play-calling duties from him in early December while the Panthers were in the process of losing 24-17 to Tampa Bay. the Panthers were 14th in overall defense and 12th in scoring with Washington as defensive play caller. They finished 10th on defense and 14th in scoring defense.
Dumb, should’ve been Eric Washington so browns could stay upstairs
— Idrees Muhammad Kudaimi (@TotallyREALSpo1) November 29, 2024
Now brown, who seems to have chemistry with Caleb, has no chance to stay next season https://t.co/R8i28aop5r
However, the defense had gone through a four-week stretch with only one takeaway and was 19th in sacks when Rivera made that move.
3 times in a row a top prospect at QB will enter the 2nd year with a new HC and new system. pic.twitter.com/yAFPPDRrFa
— Michael Gus (@MichaelGus57) November 29, 2024
"One thousand percent ready," Washington said of his preparedness when named defensive coordinator and play caller.
Curtis was a defensive passing game coordinator four years with Seattle but never a defensive coordinator.
I don’t know if I’m more excited to see
— Kirsten Tanis (@kct2020) November 29, 2024
Thomas Brown coaching games
or
Eric Washington set fire to Flus’ Prevent Defense in the 4th quarter.
That drove me crazy.
As bad as the end of games were under Eberflus, he did know his defense and scheme. The Bears are ninth in scoring defense, although they have slipped badly in yards allowed over the last three weeks to 19th. They are 12th against the pass and 25th against the run. The big emphasis Eberflus had wsa takeaways and the Bears are sixth with 19 of them.
They'll also need to decide whether Brown is going to stay on the sidelines now. He had been calling plays in the coaches' box. It would seem unlikely he'd continue doing that if he's coaching the full team.
Twitter: BearsOnSI
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