Todd Wash is in his seventh season with the Jaguars and his fourth 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 is in his seventh season with the Jaguars and his fourth 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.

Over the last three seasons (2016-18), the Jaguars’ defense ranked first in net passing yards allowed per game (193.2 net passing yards per game allowed), second in total defense (306.4 YPG allowed) and tied for third in defensive TDs (10) in the NFL during that span. From 2016-18, Jacksonville’s defense has had six players earn eight total Pro Bowl nods.

In 2018, Wash guided a defense that proved formidable at all three levels, allowing the NFL’s second-fewest passing yards per game (194.6), fourth-fewest points per game (19.8) and the fifth-fewest yards per game (311.4). In home games, the Jaguars allowed 15.1 points per game, the league’s best mark. The Jaguars’ defense recorded the seventh shutout in franchise history in Week 13 versus the Colts. CB Jalen Ramsey helped lead the Jaguars passing defense in 2018, which allowed the fifth-fewest net passing yards in franchise history (194.6 net passing yards per game). Ramsey was named a starter in the Pro Bowl for the second consecutive season, while DL Calais Campbell earned his fourth overall Pro Bowl berth and second since joining the Jaguars in 2017. Campbell recorded 10.5 sacks, becoming the first player in franchise history to post back-to-back seasons with at least 10.0 sacks. Campbell recorded 20 TFL, the third-most in the NFL and most in franchise history since the stat began being tracked in 2008. LBs Telvin Smith Sr. (134) and Myles Jack (107) each recorded career-highs in tackles with Smith’s tackle tally ranking sixth in the NFL. Smith finished with two INTs and was one of two players in the NFL to record at least 130 tackles and register a pick six. DE Yannick Ngakoue finished 2018 with 9.5 sacks, improving his career total to 29.5 sacks in three seasons.

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 allowed per play (4.61) and passing yards allowed per game (169.9), second in points allowed per game (16.8) and opponents’ red zone TD percentage (39.3 percent) and fourth in opponents’ third down percentage (33.6 percent). The unit finished the season with a franchise-record 33 takeaways. In addition, the team’s 55 sacks were the second-most in franchise history, trailing only the 1999 season (57). The defense was led by six Pro Bowlers on all three levels of the defense with Campbell, DL Malik Jackson, Smith, CB A.J. Bouye and 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 DE Dante Fowler Jr. – 8.0). 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. Smith led the team in tackles with 102 (76 solo) and recorded 12 tackles for a loss, 1.0 sack, three INTs (one INT-TD), five passes defensed, one forced fumble and two fumble recoveries, one of which he returned for a score. 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), 1.0 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 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. 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.

When Wash was the defensive line coach 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. 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, fourth in franchise history and the 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 a single game franchise history.

Prior to arriving in Jacksonville, 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.