Eagles hire Washburn

The Eagles were able to lure Jim Washburn away from Tennessee and signed the defensive line coach to a deal today, the team announced.

"We are thrilled to add a quality defensive line coach in Jim Washburn," Eagles coach Andy Reid said in a statement. "He had a great tenure with Jeff Fisher and the Tennessee Titans and he'll play a big part in the development of our defensive line moving forward. He's had a number of Pro Bowl players working under him over the years with the Titans and we're happy to have him join our coaching staff in Philadelphia."

Those Pro Bowl players include defensive ends Kyle Vanden Bosch, Jevon Kearse and Jason Babin, and defensive tackles Albert Haynesworth and Kevin Carter.

The 61-year-old Washburn has spent the last 12 seasons with the Titans. Since joining that post in 1999, the Titans have ranked 7th in the NFL in sacks (474), while ranking 5th against the run, limiting opponents to just 102.9 rushing yards per game during that span.

"Words cannot express the gratitude I have for Jeff Fisher and the Titans organization for allowing a nobody like me to coach in the NFL for the last 12 years," Washburn said in a statement.  "An opportunity came along for me to join the Eagles and I felt like it was good timing. At this stage of my career, I'm ready to make a change. This is no reflection on the state of the Titans but just a good opportunity for me."

Washburn will replace Rory Segrest, who the Eagles fired last week after two seasons as their defensive line coach.

The Eagles still have to find a defensive coordinator, however. Jim Mora, who was in Denver yesterday, and Dick Jauron, who is currently in Cleveland, are two of the leading candidates. Mora has narrowed his choices down to the Eagles and Broncos.