The Chicago Bears hired new defensive coordinator Eric Washington this offseason. But even though he is joining the coaching staff and will be organizing the defense, it sounds like head coach Matt Eberflus will still continue to call defensive plays.
Matt Eberflus took over play-calling duties for the team after previous defensive coordinator Alan Williams resigned from his position before Week 3 last season. This week, Matt Eberflus announced that even despite the team bringing in Washington as their new defensive coordinator, he will continue to call defensive plays himself.
However, this did not seem to dissuade Washington from wanting to take the job.
“My focus was what the job is as opposed to what it isn’t,” Washington said Thursday according to NBC Sports Chicago. “The opportunity to come here and to this organization with a defense that is clearly on an upward trajectory that has some really dynamic performers in place with plans of obviously augmenting that, that’s what my focus was. And that’s what it continues to be. I’ve been a play-caller. I’m pretty confident that I will do that again at some point, but right now, I’m really confident with what Matt is going to bring to the table in that respect, and I will support him as best as I can.”
It’s a pretty significant announcement, and it led to a lot of reactions on social media as a result.
Let's see if you can replicate the end of the season Matty boi https://t.co/GLbnklUVEQ
— Justin Vasari (@SincerelyNotMe3) February 22, 2024
The defense took a massive step forward when Flus started calling plays https://t.co/Qab1avxsvD
— David Peters Jr🐻⬇️ (@David_Peters_04) February 22, 2024
I feel better about him actually calling plays than being a player motivator head coach https://t.co/YkLfSeLuxR
— kevin Nash (@thevonius) February 22, 2024
I actually like this. Packers game was a disaster but can’t deny the difference from the start to end of the season. https://t.co/TPIGHRnTzD
— Carlos Garcia (@CG_FlyTheW) February 22, 2024
I like this.. let the new DC get a feel for how Matt’s defense should run so he can eventually hand it over. Good deal https://t.co/FOdIuFZ5ax
— 🤨 (@BearsTw1tter) February 22, 2024
Good
Everyone saw how much better the defense looked when he took over
Between this and the Sweat addition. Probably saved his job. https://t.co/jm5CY7jiWL
— 🅱️🚂 (@blakecowellx) February 23, 2024
We’ll have to see how this goes for the Bears.
