The Hamilton Tiger-Cats have fired defensive coordinator Mark Washington and replaced him with former Edmonton Elks’ head coach Chris Jones, according to a report from TSN’s Farhan Lalji.
Jones was fired by the Elks on July 15 after an 0-5 start to the season. He went 8-33 in less than three seasons at the helm, his second stint with the team.
The 56-year-old native of South Pittsburg, Tenn. is 61-70 all-time as a CFL head coach, winning a Grey Cup with Edmonton in 2015. He was named the CFL’s Coach of the Year in 2018 with the Saskatchewan Roughriders before departing for a coaching role with the Cleveland Browns.
Prior to his time as a head coach, Jones won three Grey Cups as an assistant and defensive coordinator with the Montreal Alouettes, Calgary Stampeders, and Toronto Argonauts. He last held single duty as a defensive play-caller for Toronto in 2021, when he was brought in mid-season as a consultant.
During his first stop in Toronto, Jones served as the defensive coordinator under current Tiger-Cats’ head coach Scott Milanovich. The two also worked together on the same staff in Montreal and remain friends.
Washington had been the Ticats’ defensive coordinator since 2019, helping the team to back-to-back Grey Cup appearances to begin his tenure. However, Hamilton’s defence has struggled in 2024, ranking last in points surrendered (30.2) and seventh in net offence allowed (363.4) entering Week 11. A 47-22 defeat at the hands of the Elks on Saturday night was the final straw.
The 51-year-old previously held the same title with the B.C. Lions from 2014 to 2018. He has been employed continuously in the CFL since 1997, when he began as a player with the Montreal Alouettes.
The Ticats (2-8) will next visit the Winnipeg Blue Bombers on Friday, August 23.
