The Bears have used their time carefully in searching for new coaches to fill the open positions. With the Senior Bowl just over a week away though, the importance of getting the staff ready is increasing. Chicago will be coaching the North Team down in Mobile. It seems head coach John Fox found his first replacement.
Source tells @sn_nfl that @MiamiDolphins asst o-line coach Jeremiah Washburn leaving to become @ChicagoBears o-line coach
— Alex Marvez (@alexmarvez) January 16, 2017
Rich Campbell of the Chicago Tribune quickly followed up with who exactly the Bears are getting.
“Washburn, 39, was the Dolphins’ assistant offensive line coach last season under head coach Adam Gase, the former Bears offensive coordinator. Before that, Washburn spent the previous three seasons as the Lions’ offensive line coach. He was Detroit’s assistant offensive line coach from 2009-2012.
Washburn played guard at Arkansas, finishing his college career in 1999. He became a graduate assistant for two seasons and was on staff when current Bears offensive coordinator Dowell Loggains arrived there as a player/coach. Washburn entered the NFL as a football operations assistant with the Panthers in 2002, the first season current Bears coach John Fox served as head coach there.”
It goes a bit beyond just connections though. Washburn is somewhat of a second generation coach. His father, Jim Washburn, is one of the most highly-respected defensive line coaches in the league. Jeremiah is somewhat unique though in that he actually spent his early years as a scout. From 2003 to 2008 he was with the Baltimore Ravens, learning under GM Ozzie Newsome.
Subscribe to the BFR podcast and ride shotgun with Dave and Ficky as they break down Bears football like nobody else.
When he returned to coaching, he joined the Detroit Lions in 2010 as an assistant offensive line coach. Three years later he was promoted. A job he would hold until 2015. Over that span the Lions reached the top six in total offensive yards three times. Matthew Stafford was sacked the third-fewest times (115) of any quarterback while Washburn ran the offensive line. He did this without a single Pro Bowl-caliber player on the depth chart.
To top it off? He made them respectable in rushing. In 2013, Reggie Bush ran for over 1, 000 yards. A year later Joique Bell went over 800. It can’t be a coincidence that the Lions’ leading rusher in 2015 had just over 500 yards considering Washburn was fired in late October. Something many people who followed the situation had nothing to do with his skill.
Washburn's a good coach. Got scapegoated in Detroit last year. https://t.co/RdXaSRfauD
— Dave Birkett (@davebirkett) January 17, 2017
As @alexmarvez said, #Dolphins asst OL coach Jeremiah Washburn to take over as #Bears OL coach. Washburn had interest from multiple teams.
— Adam Caplan (@caplannfl) January 16, 2017
Then there is the growing buzz that Washburn had a big hand in the turnaround of fortune for the Miami Dolphins this seasons.
