THE APEX TIMES
Charlotte elevated longtime defensive line coach Todd Wash to interim defensive coordinator duties Friday, bringing an NFL play-calling track record and a history of developing premium pass-rush talent.
The Carolina Panthers named veteran defensive line coach Todd Wash interim defensive coordinator on Friday, putting the long-tenured NFL assistant in charge of the defense on an interim basis.
Wash has coordinator experience beyond the current staff. He previously served as Jacksonville’s defensive coordinator from 2016 to 2020, a stretch that included three defenses finishing in the top 10 in total defense and an AFC Championship Game appearance in 2017.
In Charlotte, Wash has been a key part of the defensive line room for multiple seasons. He is in his fourth season with the Panthers as defensive line coach and has coached for 31 years total, including 20 in the NFL, with coaching stops that include Tampa, Seattle, and Detroit.
The Panthers’ release emphasizes Wash’s track record of maximizing high-value players. It cites his work with Aidan Hutchinson in Detroit, including a 9.5-sack season and standout production in 2022, and it also points to his impact on Derrick Brown in Charlotte, when Brown set a league record for tackles by a lineman in a season under Wash’s tutelage and became a Pro Bowler.
Wash’s background also includes collaboration with Panthers leadership through the coaching ranks. The team notes that when Wash was with the Seahawks in 2011 and 2012, he worked alongside staff that included current Panthers head coach Dave Canales and general manager Dan Morgan during their time climbing the ladder.
Before becoming a coach, Wash played football at North Dakota State and later attended training camp with the Houston Oilers. The Panthers also highlight his playing roots in North Dakota, where he competed in multiple roles in high school and then played outside linebacker at NDSU, including on national championship teams in 1988 and 1990.