A day after meeting with Eric Washington for an in-person interview, the Bears have added the coach to their staff. According to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, the Bears have hired Washington as their new defensive coordinator.
This is a bit of a homecoming for Washington, as the coach had a three-year stint with the Bears coaching staff earlier in his career. That job in Chicago was followed by a long stint with the Panthers that culminated in him being named defensive coordinator in 2018. The Panthers struggled during Washington’s two seasons at the helm, including a 2019 campaign where Carolina finished 31st in points allowed and 23rd in yards allowed.
He later reunited with former Panthers DC Sean McDermott in Buffalo, becoming the Bills defensive line coach. He earned a promotion to senior defensive assistant in 2022 and assistant head coach in 2023. The Bills ranked fourth in the league in sacks this past year with 54, and the team has consistently had a strong pass rush under Washington.
Bears defensive coordinator Alan Williams resigned back in September, citing health and family concerns. Matt Eberflus took over defensive play-calling duties, and per Pelissero, the head coach is expected to retain that responsibility for the 2024 campaign. The Bears defense allowed a league-low 1,468 rushing yards last season, and they finished tied for the league-lead with 22 interceptions. However, the Bears also allowed 31 passing touchdowns, the fourth-highest mark in the NFL.
Washington was one of four known candidates for the Chicago job. The Bears also showed interest in former Packers defensive coordinator Joe Barry, Titans secondary coach Chris Harris, and Titans assistant head coach/defensive line coach Terrell Williams.
As for Buffalo, Ryan O’Halloran of The Buffalo News opines that Washington’s departure makes it clear that McDermott isn’t going to hire a defensive coordinator. Otherwise, the role likely would have been reserved for Washington.
Now that they have their OC and DC they can figure what to do with Justin Fields.
Trade Fields and select Caleb Williams?
Keep Fields and Trade the #1 pick?
Keep Fields and use the #1 pick on WR Marvin Harrison Jr?
Who is willing to give up a 1st round pick to trade for Fields and then pay Fields a long term deal?
I don’t think Fields has done enough to command a 1st round pick in trade but I like Williams even less. I think the Bears will give their new OC a shot at getting Fields on track and if doesn’t work they simply decline to pick up his 5th year option. Harrison Jr. looks like the best draft option but the Bears had the same feeling back in 2015 about WR Kevin White who was a horrific bust.
I think I would give Fields another year and draft Marvin Harrison with the #1. I know it is risky but it could be the greatest draft pick in NFL history if it goes well lol. I would also grab the best OT available with the 9th pick to give Fields the time he needs to operate.
Fields is on his rookie deal so a team is obligated I believe to give a round 1 pick for his contract. However (example) someone said that PIT could send the 2024 #20 pick to CHI in exchange for Fields and the Bears 2025 2nd round pick. Essentially the Bears would get rid of Fields and Upgrade a 2nd rounder to a 1st. And PIT would get Fields and it would only cost them downgrading a 1st to a 2nd. Not saying it will happen but possible option for the Bears.
I can see your comparison of situations with Harrison v White but I would say that’s a bit of a stretch as Harrison is well-polished whereas White had the one good college year and flew up the draft boards. He WAS an epic bust and should be a warning to all about drafting one-year college wonders.
Agreed, but White had an injury and the Bears selected him anyway.. If MHJ is healthy he should be a game changer. If the Bears can trade down and still get MHJ and that team they traded with stinks out loud like Carolina did this past season, the Bears will still be in position to get another top 10, if not 5, pick so if Fields does not work out you get a player then (actually even if they do not the Bears would have multiple picks in 2025 draft to try to trade up if they really really like a QB).
I’m not sure if Williams agent is paying all of these ‘analysts’ and ‘scouts’ but I just do not buy the hype, never mind all of the red flags that come with him. In any case, I would not want to be in Poles shoes as this decision could mean how long he is employed as GM.
Fields was well into the bottom half of QBs this past season in most stat categories which was his third professional season.
Unless he’s offered an insane haul (we’re talking 4+ first round picks as a base line), there’s no way Poles is trading away the first overall pick for the second year in a row after missing so badly on CJ Stroud.
It may not work out with Caleb, but for better or worse, Poles is going to move Fields and draft the most highly touted QB prospect since Trevor Lawrence. Plus, drafting a new QB allows him to reset to a rookie contract at the most expensive position in football.
There’s food for thought…Trevor Lawrence. What do we think of HIM three years out?? Bad first year, of course, which you can compare to Fields’ situation but then his third year, second in the same offense was not exactly what everyone hoped for. When do we start thinking of him as a bust in relative terms to the “generational talent” tag he was given.
Could it be these QBs are just overrated and are not ready to play when they first come out? I understand the pressure and ‘win now’ attitude of owners, GMs, media, and fans but how long before people start paying attention, notice this and begin to course correct??
I agree. I think Lawrence has been a bust relative to his reputation his being taken at 1-1.
Maybe the best route really is the Packers’ model of drafting a lesser known pocket passer a later round and benching him for a few years.
I mean they’ve had Favre, Rodgers, and now Love, the latter two of which have followed that model.
Before Rodgers left, the Packers had two starting QBs in a time when the bears had I think 36 different starting QBs.
They aren’t getting a first for Fields given what he’s done in his career so far. The floor for a trade package is probably a 2nd, a 6th, and a 4th as that’s what the Jets got for Sam Darnold who had the same amount of contractual control as Fields, but was getting paid more due to his draft slot and didn’t perform as well. So maybe Fields gets a 2nd, a 6th, and a 4th that becomes a 2nd or 3rd if he makes the playoffs or pro bowl
If the Bears can get an offer for a first rounder for Fields, the Bears should ask what they are missing with him to trade him.I still think Fields can be a good enough QB to get you to where you want to go. Get him time and confidence in the pocket (IE a stud LT and Center) and an OC who can get the best out of him, instead of trying to force him into a system he is not built for and I think he can be a good QB. Another WR and TE would be good too as the Bears offense suffered when Kmet and Moore would get hurt, which is another reason why secondaries were punishing both when they got the ball.
Agreed, I think the Bears could take Marvin Harrison Jr. at #1 and grab the best OT available at #9. The Bears can grab a Center in the 4th round.
The Bears could trade the #1 pick, but it is difficult to guess which team would want to trade up to #1. WAS and NE do not need to. DEN doesn’t have the picks imo and LAV seems content with O’Connell. TEN or ATL may want to trade but they both have new HC’s, they may not want to trade away future assist at the start of their rebuilds. SEA has Geno for 1 more year I think, so PIT is the only one left who may want to trade for Fields.
Is there a scenario were CHI keeps Fields for 1 more year and takes Caleb at #1? Let Caleb sit for a year and try to improve Fields’ stock in a system that is untested? At the very lease work out the new system and let Fields take a beating while the offense is figured out?
Seems better to just build around Fields, he plays some really good ball. It isn’t always pretty but the offense has failed to protect him. Just my opinion.
Is there anything else you think Fields needs to get “confidence”? How about an all pro OL and 3 top line WRs? Maybe hire Shanahan as the HC, or bring back the ghost of Don Shula? Fields been in the league 3 years already, how many more does he need? He just isn’t capable of handling a complicated offense. Tyler Bagent looked more confident in the pocket than Fields.
In response to this…Jordan Love was a first-year starter this season. Of course, he had the benefit of sitting for 3 years but Fields now has three years as a starter and people STILL aren’t sure what they have in him. I can see if one says his first two were rocky and he was putting it together but at this point, I would say as a GM, you should know how your QB is going to work out. And I would say the jury is still out on Fields and that’s not good enough at this point. Is it him or is it the offense/situation? Nobody really knows.
Exactly. The GM is at practice everyday and should know what Fields can/can’t do. Maybe he puts it together like Goff eventually, or remains a bust like Trubisky. As of today, he hasn’t shown he’s a franchise QB.
@ Plus3: Im sorry I do not have the blind hatred you apparently do for Fields. There are a LOT of QBs in this league that need more support (whether its better and healthy receivers and an top notch O line, which the Bears do not have). Notice one thing about most of the ‘great’ QBs in this league, they are basically having a cup of coffee behind their lines. As an example, Jordan Love barely got touched this season (heck barely got breathed on) and did not have to live through a 3-14 season in ’22 like Fields had to.
As for those comparing Love to Fields:
How can that honestly be done through neutral eyes?
Love got to sit around and absorb what Rodgers and LaFleurs staff were showing him for 2 years(and in spot starts over the past couple of years Love did not look like much BTW). Fields got thrown into a meat grinder with an idiot like Nagy ‘coaching’ him, then a blow up of a team where his ‘best’ receivers was ‘drops’ Mooney and ‘wrong’ St Brown. Never mind two what are fairly inept OCs to start his career. Yeah, but otherwise they are alike.
I respect your rebuttal but c’mon, I’ve got to call out the “Yeah but otherwise they are alike” comment. Justin Fields and the Chicago Bears. Jordan Love and the Green Bay Packers. IF on Sunday, August 13, 2023, the day after Fields went 3 for 3 with 2 TDs in the 1st Preseason game I would have said “Yeah, you know, I think Love and the Packers are going to make the playoffs because Jordan Love got to sit for 3 years and learn from a 1st ballot HoF and the Bears are going to suck yet again” everybody and I mean EVERYBODY would have said I’m crazy. And that would be after Love not looking so great when he had a chance and especially not looking all that good in camp this year. And that would be after Fields going into his 3rd year, 2nd in the same system, ready to make that 3rd year leap. “Chicago” will always make whatever excuse is necessary to fit the particular situation; always has, always will. And, typical, because the Packers made the playoffs and the Bears sucked yet again, the excuse is “Love had a chance to sit and Fields got thrown into a crappy situation”. Maybe Fields just isn’t that good. First Trubisky, then Fields, and next Williams? So why don’t the Bears brass recognize this, go get a “bridge QB”, and draft Williams but have Williams sit for a year or two? They should realize they need to just “take the hit” by taking a step back and starting over.
I didn’t mean for this to be snarky so please don’t take it that way.
Doesn’t really matter who the assistants are with Eberflub as HC. Sure the defense “improved”- after the Montez Sweat trade. He blew three late leads and was the genius who thought having Justin Jones cover a TE with the Brown’s game on the line, was a good idea. Williams? Fields? Won’t matter with him in charge.
Eberflus was not great, but I think he is around still as 2022 was just a garbage year for all and really until Sweat was acquired the D was still fairly helpless looking (because they had little good Edge rushers). I have also seen a LOT of good coaches lose games due to being the same way, its not just new HCs. I get that they do not want to show the other team up, but as far as Im concerned the only time you play a prevent O or D is when you are up at least 3 TDs on a team with under 2 minutes left.
You’re making my case. But even beyond defense, the man is waaaay over his head. Getsy didn’t deliver, but he had NO help from his clueless HC. Poles absolutely blew it by keeping him. He needed to take a risk on someone like the OC from Houston who designed and offense and defense around the players they had. Eberflub is at best, a placeholder.
Agreed to that, With more weapons that can be had in this draft, Eberflus should have no more excuses… Unless they draft another QB who will start, and will likely need at least one season to get acclimatized to the NFL.. and spare me the Stroud comparisons, for every ‘Stroud’, there are about 10 ‘Youngs’.
Odds are good that if a QB is drafted and expected to start, the Bears take a step back, unless they sit him and let Fields have a chance with more O line upgrades, another WR (for when Moore gets knocked out of a game), and possibly another TE to compliment Kmet (and for when Kmet gets knocked out of a game).
Thank goodness, I was a lil nervous about those Joe Barry rumors.
Ah, Packers fans were hoping the Bears would as they took the Pack’s QB coach and made him an OC.
Chicago Bears go to WASHINGTON !!
Th Bears stats are a bit misleading as for most of the season they still had little to no pass rush until Sweat came over in that trade. The Bears still need another stud Edge rusher and NT/3Tech which should be acquired in this draft. Another reason for Poles to trade down as this team, while better, still has a LOT of holes on the O and D lines as well.
Sort of an odd hire. His time as a DC in Carolina wasn’t that successful (his defense ranked 19th one year and 31st the next). Sure, he’s been on a winning Buffalo team the last couple of years, but not as a DC.
Most coaches are better in second even third jobs than they are in their first jobs.