Todd Wash in his third season as the team’s defensive coordinator. Wash originally joined the team as the defensive line coach on Jan. 28, 2013 before being promoted to defensive coordinator entering the 2016 season.

Todd Wash in his third season as the team’s defensive coordinator. Wash originally joined the team as the defensive line coach on Jan. 28, 2013 before being promoted to defensive coordinator entering the 2016 season.  

In 2017, Wash oversaw one of the premier defenses in the NFL and was named Coordinator of the Year by The Sporting News. Jacksonville’s defense finished the season ranked first in yards per play (4.61) and passing yards per game (169.9), second in points per game (16.8) and red zone TD percentage (39.3 percent) and fourth in third down percentage (33.6 percent). The unit finished the season with 33 takeaways, which set a franchise record. In addition, the team’s 55 sacks were the second-most in franchise history only trailing the 1999 season (57).  

The defense was led by six Pro Bowlers on all three levels of the defense with DE Calais Campbell, DL Malik Jackson, LB Telvin Smith, CB A.J. Bouye and CB Jalen Ramsey. Campbell and Ramsey were also both recognized as members of the AP All-Pro First Team.  

The Jaguars defensive line emerged as one of the most productive pass rushing units in 2017 as the team finished with 55 sacks, second in the NFL, and had four players register at least eight sacks (Campbell – 14.5, Ngakoue – 12.0, Jackson – 8.0 and Fowler Jr. – 8.0). The teams’ 55 sacks were the second most in franchise history trailing the 1999 season (57).  

The Jaguars had the NFL’s best passing defense in the regular season, holding opponents to a 68.5 passer rating and allowing just 169.9 net passing yards per game, both the fewest in the NFL. Bouye led the group with six INTs and 19 passes defensed, while Ramsey recorded four INTs and 17 passes defensed. Both starting safeties, Barry Church and Tashaun Gipson, recorded four INTs apiece, combined for 15 passes defensed and were third and fifth, respectively, on the team in tackles. 

Smith led the team in tackles with 102 (76 solo) and also recorded 12 tackles for a loss, one sack, three INTs (one INT-TD), five passes defensed, one forced fumble and two fumble recoveries, one of which he returned for a score. Second-year LB Myles Jack finished second on the team in tackles with 90 (66 solo) and played his best football in the playoffs, finishing the 2018 postseason with 19 tackles (16 solo), one sack, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery, three passes defensed, two tackles for a loss and one INT. Myles Jack wasn’t down. 

Wash’s defense displayed continued improvement throughout the 2016 season. His unit finished the year ranked sixth overall in yards per game allowed, including 215.3 yards passing allowed that was fifth in the NFL. In addition, the Jaguars’ front seven limited opponents to 3.82 yards per carry, which was tied for sixth-best in the league. The Jaguars finished particularly strong, tallying the most passes defensed in franchise history during the months of December and January (32), and a franchise-best 13 passes defensed against Tennessee in Week 16. Jacksonville’s defense also had 80 tackles for loss, fourth in the NFL, while Smith set a career high with 14 stops behind the line of scrimmage. On third downs, Wash’s troops finished the season with an impressive 37.1 third down percentage, which ranked eighth in the NFL, including a dominant 7.7 (one for 13) percent against Denver in Week 13.  

Wash also mentored two record-breaking rookies in Ramsey and Ngakoue. Ngakoue broke the single-season Jaguars rookie record when he posted 8.0 sacks. He joined LB Tamba Hali, LB Terrell Suggs, LB Julius Peppers and LB Charles Haley as the only rookies in NFL history to post 8.0 sacks, four forced fumbles and at least one INT. Ramsey also posted a standout rookie campaign under Wash, as the shutdown corner led all NFL rookies with 14 passes defensed. Ramsey joined CB Marcus Peters as the only rookie CBs over the last eight seasons to register 50 tackles, one pick-six and one forced fumble during their inaugural year. Ramsey, who held receivers to 50 or fewer receiving yards in coverage in 10 of 16 games, was tasked with following the opponents’ number one wideout on six occasions. 

In 2015, the team ranked 15th (106.8) in opponent rushing yards per game, an improvement from 27th (127.1) in 2014. The Jaguars also ranked fifth in opponent rushing average (3.68), up from 12th (4.07) in 2014. In addition, DL Jared Odrick led the team with 5.5 sacks, while DE Andre Branch and DT Roy Miller III had 4.0 sacks apiece. Jacksonville’s defense tied for the NFL’s fourth-most sack-fumbles (8.0) in 2015.  

Wash has also tutored a productive pass rush. The Jaguars ranked sixth in the NFL with 45.0 sacks in 2014, the fourth-most in franchise history and most since 2005. Among the 45.0 sacks, 37.0 were credited to defensive linemen. The Jaguars forced five fumbles in Week 12 at Indianapolis, the most in single game franchise history. Sixth-year DT Sen’Derrick Marks had the best statistical season of his career, totaling 8.5 sacks, 15 tackles for loss and 16 QB hits. Veteran DE Chris Clemons registered eight sacks and second-year DE Ryan Davis notched a career-high 6.5 sacks. In Wash’s first year with the Jaguars in 2013, the club improved its sack total from 20.0 in 2012 to 31.0 and totaled 19.0 sacks in the last seven games.   

Wash coached the Seahawks defensive line from 2011-12 and helped the unit rank sixth in the NFL in yards per game (319.2), third in fewest points allowed (17.5), first in opponents passer rating (73.2) and fifth in takeaways (62) during that span. The Seahawks registered an 11-5 regular season record in 2012, the third-best mark in franchise history, and advanced to the divisional round of the playoffs. The Seahawks led the NFL by allowing a franchise-record low 15.3 points per game and ranked fourth in total defense (306.2 yards per game).   

Wash entered the NFL coaching ranks with the Buccaneers, where he spent four seasons (2007-10), serving the last three as defensive line coach. Prior to joining the Buccaneers, Wash had two stints (2002-03, 2005-06) as an assistant coach at his alma mater, North Dakota State. While with the Bison, Wash coached the defen­sive line and coordinated the run defense. In between appointments at NDSU, he spent the 2004 season as defensive coordinator/linebackers coach at Missouri Southern State. Wash began his coaching career at Fort Lewis College in 1996 as defensive coordinator and was promoted to head coach/defensive coordinator for three seasons (1997-99). He worked as defensive coordinator at Nebraska-Kearney from 2000-01. A two-time All-North Central Conference outside linebacker at North Dakota State, Wash played on two national championship teams with the Bison in 1988 and 1990. A preseason All-American and team captain in 1991, he had a tryout as an undrafted rookie with the Houston Oilers in 1992. He holds two degrees from NDSU, including a bachelor’s degree in physical education (1994) and a master’s in athletic administration (1996).   

Wash, born July 19, 1968, and his wife, Darci, have two daughters, Alyssa and Jenae, and one son, Marcus. Darci was an All-America basketball player at NDSU and played on three national championship teams. She was inducted into the Bison Athletic Hall of Fame in 2012.