Breaking News: Bills Now Identifies Potential Eric Washington Replacement
The Buffalo Bills have recently experienced a significant departure from their defensive coaching staff and are now considering a notable addition. According to a report from the NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport on January 27, the Bills are conducting an interview with Sean Desai, the former defensive coordinator of the Philadelphia Eagles, for the vacant defensive coordinator position.
The news of Desai’s interview comes shortly after the departure of defensive line coach and assistant head coach Eric Washington, who has taken on a new role with the Chicago Bears. While head coach Sean McDermott assumed the defensive coordinator role last season after Leslie Frazier’s departure, the ongoing staff changes and the interview with Desai may indicate potential adjustments for the 2024 season.
‘Intriguing’ Move for the Bills
Desai brings extensive experience as a defensive coordinator, leading the Chicago Bears defense in 2021 and the Seattle Seahawks in 2022. His tenure with the Philadelphia Eagles in the same role ended in dismissal late in the season. According to observations by Bleacher Report’s Mike Chiari, Desai faced challenges establishing a defensive presence in Philadelphia, with opposing teams easily gaining passing yards, averaging 252.7 per game.
This contributed to the Eagles’ late-season struggles, finishing 11-6 and losing in the NFC Divisional Round to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
The #Bills are interviewing Sean Desai for their DC job today, per @rapsheet. pic.twitter.com/vXNTDbCiex
— Buffalo Fanatics (@BfloFanatics) January 27, 2024
Following Desai’s departure, Matt Patricia took over, but the defense did not improve, contributing to the Eagles’ continued late-season decline. Head coach Nick Sirianni acknowledged the difficulty of the decision to replace Desai and expressed awareness of the challenges it posed for both coaches. Despite the challenges, Sirianni believed it was the best decision for the team at that time.
Chiari noted that Desai could be an intriguing addition for the Buffalo Bills, especially considering their successful defensive season under head coach Sean McDermott. The Bills operated without a defensive coordinator after Leslie Frazier stepped away, with McDermott handling defensive play-calling. Despite facing numerous defensive injuries, Buffalo ranked ninth in total defense and fourth in scoring defense.
Changes to Bills’ Staff
The Buffalo Bills have recently undergone significant staff changes, with Washington accepting a defensive coordinator position in Chicago, and the team’s linebackers coach, Bobby Babich, interviewing for defensive coordinator roles with the Miami Dolphins, New York Giants, and Green Bay Packers.
Bobby Babich, previously the Bills’ safeties coach, transitioned to the linebackers position following the retirement of his father, Bob Babich. Expressing his passion for coaching, Bobby Babich credited his time working alongside his father for solidifying his career path.
“It cemented what I wanted to do,” Babich shared with The Athletic. “I was around it, and I loved it. I was never pushed to love it. I just kind of fell in love with the game. I knew I wanted to be involved in football at a very young age. I knew I wanted to be involved in this sport in some way.”