Football

Tony Washington Jr.
Tony Washington Jr.
  • Title:
    Assistant Coach, Defensive Line/Outside Linebackers
Tony Washington Jr. completed his first season as UCLA's defensive line/outside linebackers coach in 2024. He was added to the staff in January 2024. Washington was most recently a defensive graduate assistant at the University of Oregon, his alma mater.

The Bruins in 2024 finished the regular season with the No. 6 rushing defense in the country at 96.2 yards per game. UCLA also ranked No. 39 nationally with 340.8 yards allowed per game, despite playing the fifth-toughest strength of schedule in the country. Under his tutelage, defensive tackle Jay Toia earned an All-Big Ten honorable mention and was voted Team MVP at the program's postseason banquet.

A standout outside linebacker for Oregon from 2010-14, Washington started his coaching career in 2019 after spending parts of four years with the NFL's Houston Texans and Tennessee Titans.

Washington helped guide UO's defensive line in 2022 before focusing on its outside linebackers this past season. The Ducks led the Pac-12 and ranked ninth nationally for scoring defense in 2023, allowing just 16.5 points per game. The 117.61 passing efficiency put forth by opposing quarterbacks was also the conference's best mark (13th overall). For surrendering 318.4 yards per game, UO was second in the Pac-12 and 22nd in the country. The Ducks defeated previously-unbeaten Liberty 45-6 in the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl. The 2022 squad intercepted the second most passes in the league and 10th highest total overall (16), while ranking third among Pac-12 teams and 22nd nationally in red-zone defense (.667). Washington held an off-field position in 2021, serving as the Ducks' director of player development.

Washington started his coaching career in the Big Ten Conference, spending the 2019 and 2020 campaigns as a graduate assistant at the University of Nebraska. He earned a master's degree in leadership education during his time on the Lincoln, Neb. campus.

Undrafted in 2015, Washington was picked up by the Texans and called Houston home for the next two years. He remained in the AFC South division through 2018, spending the balance of his professional career with the Titans.

Washington played in 51 games for UO, starting the final 28 of his college career. He piled up 158 total tackles, 25.5 tackles for loss, 14.5 sacks, eight forced fumbles, four fumble recoveries and three passes defended, helping the Ducks to conference championships in 2010, 2011 and 2014. UO earned a spot in the inaugural College Football National Championship after beating Florida State 59-20 in the 2015 Rose Bowl Game. Washington was voted the semifinal's defensive MVP. He also received All-Conference recognition in 2013.

A 2011 Pac-12 Conference All-Academic Team honorable mention pick, Washington majored in psychology and sociology. He is a Rancho Cucamonga, Calif. native who starred at Los Osos HS.