Northwood alum becomes defensive coordinator in NFL
- Joel Rodgers
Sometimes while scrolling through Facebook, certain things catch your eye. Yesterday, I noticed a post from Northwood’s Principal Shannon Wall;
“Bam! Eric Washington is a 1987 graduate of Northwood High School. So proud of my good friend.”
He also shared an article from NFL.com on Carolina Panthers promoting Eric Washington to DC (defensive coordinator).
After graduating from Northwood High School in 1987, Eric Washington played tight end at Grambling State from 1989-90 for legendary head coach Eddie Robinson and earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Grambling State in 1993. Commissioned as a Naval Reserve Officer in 1998, Washington was assigned to the Naval Academy Preparatory School in Newport, R.I., where he served as the defensive coordinator of the football team for three years.
He’s coached for several NCAA and NFL teams, but now Eric Washington is the head guy for a really good Caroline Panthers defense.
Since 2011, Eric Washington has served as defensive line coach for the Carolina Panthers, but on Monday the former Grambling State and Northwood Falcon was named as the new defensive coordinator for the Panthers.
During his tenure as defensive line coach, Washington has overseen one of the most productive defensive lines in the NFL. Since 2012, no group of defensive linemen produced more sacks than Carolina’s 219.0, part of Carolina’s NFL-leading 280 total sacks. Carolina finished ranked in the top 10 in sacks in five of the past six seasons, including a No. 1 ranking in 2013, a No. 2 ranking in 2016 and a No. 3 ranking in 2017.
Congratulations Coach Eric Washington!
