Bears Rumors: Bills' Eric Washington Hired as DC by Matt Eberflus

Chicago Bears head coach Matt Eberflus has filled the last major vacancy on his coaching staff for the 2024 season.

Per NFL Network's Tom Pelissero, Buffalo Bills assistant head coach and defensive line coach Eric Washington is being hired by the Bears as their new defensive coordinator.

It was somewhat surprising when the Bears announced Eberflus was returning for a third season as head coach. They did improve their win total by four games from 2022 (3-14) to 2023 (7-10), but this was an opportunity to reset with the team owning the No. 1 pick in the 2024 NFL draft.

Instead, Eberflus is being brought back with a revamped staff around him. Alan Williams resigned as Chicago's defensive coordinator early in the 2023 season.

Eberflus called defensive plays for the remainder of the year. NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported the head coach intends to be the defensive play-caller in 2024, though he wanted to bring in a true defensive coordinator.

Other coaches who weren't retained include offensive coordinator Luke Getsy, running backs coach Omar Young, wide receivers coach Tyke Tolbert and assistant tight ends coach Tim Zetts.

Shane Waldron was hired as Chicago's new offensive coordinator on Tuesday. The 44-year-old spent the past three seasons in the same role for the Seattle Seahawks.

Washington is returning to the organization that gave him his start in the NFL. He joined Lovie Smith's staff in 2008 as a defensive assistant and earned a promotion to defensive line coach two years later before taking the same position with the Carolina Panthers in 2011.

This will be the Washington's second stint as a defensive coordinator. He previously held the title for two seasons with the Panthers from 2018 to '19.

Chicago's defense finished 12th in yards allowed (324.2) and 20th in points allowed (22.3) per game during the 2023 season.