The Bears are planning to hire Jeremiah Washburn as their new offensive line coach, a person with knowledge of the situation confirmed Monday. Washburn will replace Dave Magazu, whom the team fired after the season in a move it has yet to announce.
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 college ball at Arkansas, finishing his career in 1999, two seasons before current Bears offensive coordinator Dowell Loggains arrived there. 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.
Detroit’s offensive line continues to be one of the top pass protecting lines in the NFL for an offense that has passed more than any other team over the past five seasons (3,258 pass attempts).
Injuries along the offensive line in 2014 resulted in seven different starting lineup combinations over the course of the season, including the team’s NFC Wild Card game at Dallas (1/4). Wasbhurn’s development of rookies T Cornelius Lucas and G Travis Swanson provided necessary depth up front, allowing the Lions offense to rely on different contributors throughout the season. Swanson, the team’s third-round (76 overall) pick out of Arkansas in the 2014 NFL Draft, started four of the 16 games he played in and was named 2014 Rookie of the Year by the Detroit Sports Broadcasters Association. The 2013 Lions offensive line featured three new starters in LT Riley Reiff, RG Larry Warford and RT LaAdrian Waddle, with veterans C Dominic Raiola and LG Rob Sims anchoring the unit as they finished second in the NFL in sacks allowed (23). Detroit also finished second in sacks per pass play (3.5-percent) and tied for first in percentage of negative offensive plays (6.9-percent). Washburn’s offensive line allowed one or fewer sacks in 11 games during the 2013 season, and allowed only two or fewer sacks in 14 games. The offensive line helped generate 241 rushing yards in Week 13 vs. Green Bay (11/28/13), which are the most since October 12, 1997 when the team recorded 259 against Tampa Bay. In 2012, the Lions offensive line helped pave the way for 17 rushing touchdowns. The Lions’ 17 touchdowns on the ground ranked sixth overall in the NFL, and were the most rushing touchdowns by the team since Detroit scored 19 in 1997. Washburn was instrumental in Reiff’s development as a rookie in 2012. Reiff played a key role in his first season on the Lions offensive line in an unbalanced tight end formation. Over the past four seasons, Detroit has allowed only 115 sacks, which is third in the NFL.
During his first two years in Baltimore (2003-04), Washburn was a player personnel assistant. He assisted in pro scouting, including some advance scouting of opponents, unrestricted free agents, NFL Europa and other free agents, and he also assisted the college scouting director in preparation for the NFL Draft.
In 2002, Washburn entered the NFL as a football operations assistant with the Carolina Panthers.
Washburn was a three-year guard at the University of Arkansas. He was an international economics major and was a graduate assistant for the Razorbacks’ athletic department while he earned his MBA.
Washburn was born June 17, 1977. He and his wife, Susan, have two daughters, Ally and Megan, and a son, Drew.
WASHBURN'S COACHING BACKGROUND
Detroit Lions 2009-
Offensive Line 2013- Assistant Offensive Line 2009-2012
Baltimore Ravens 2003-08
Area Scout 2005-08 Player Personnel Assistant 2003-04