AUBURN, Ala. – Nick Eason was named defense coach at Auburn, head coach Bryan Harsin Announced Wednesday. Eason, a ten-year veteran of the 2003-12 National Football League and former captain of the Clemson team, coached seven years in the NFL after his career.
“Nick is a hire that we are very excited about because he has coached and played at the highest level,” Harsin said. “After a 10-year NFL career, he immediately went into coaching and quickly became an NFL position coach within two years. This is something that does not happen every day and speaks volumes for his coaching and connection ability. Like we got to know Nick better through this process, the football part of it became very clear because he is a wonderful teacher, but what also stands out to Nick is his personality, professionalism and the ability to quickly form a relationship with people . ‘
For the past two seasons, Eason has been the defensive coach for the Cincinnati Bengals. In his first season, Eason helped significantly improve the Bengals’ defensive line as the season progressed. Cincinnati bagged another 11 sacks in the second half of 2019 compared to the first eight games. The defense also allowed 84.1 yards less per game the second half of the season. Under Eason’s leadership, DT Geno Atkins achieves his eighth Pro Bowl nomination.
‘I would like to thank Auburn University, Director of Athletics Allen Greene, Coach Bryan Harsin and defense coordinator Derek Mason for the opportunity to be part of one of the most elite programs in the country, “Eason said. In visiting Coach Harsin, it was clear that he needed the culture and a plan to create a foundation for success in producing. championships. He has a great passion and cares for his staff, players and the program. It is very good for me to coach and recruit great players and be part of a football program with great success and tradition. ‘
Eason spent 2014-17 with the Tennessee Titans and served his first two seasons as an assistant coach before moving on to his role for the last two years.
In his two seasons (2016-17) as Tennessee’s defensive coach, Eason’s units played a central role on the Titans defense, which was among the best in the NFL by the run. Tennessee’s defensive line was led by star DT Jurrell Casey, who in his two seasons under Eason scored a total of 11 bags, 37 QB hits and two Pro Bowl nominations.
In 2017, Tennessee’s defensive line was fourth in the NFL against the run, allowing an average of just 88.8 yards per game. In 2016, the Eason’s first as a defensive coach, the Titans allowed just 88.3 runs per game, and their No. 2 ranking against the run was the team’s highest in 14 seasons.
In 2015, Eason helped lead Casey to seven sacks, 28 QB pushes and his first career Pro Bowl. Eason also helped develop DE DaQuan Jones and NT Al Woods, both of which seemed like a quality appetizer and could compare their best career numbers in all categories.
In 2014, Eason’s first as a full-time NFL coach, he helped oversee Tennessee’s defensive transition from a 4-3 to a 3-4 front. He also helped Casey climb further into one of the NFL’s best defensive lines in the NFL, as he posted 86 tackles, including 13 for losses and 27 pressure on QB. Eason also led NT Sammie Hill to the career high in tackles (47), sacks (3.0), tackles for losses (seven) and QB pressure (8).
Eason’s first coaching assignment after his playing days came in 2013 when he was a coach at the Cleveland Browns.
As a player, Eason has appeared in 117 games with the Browns, Pittsburgh Steelers and Arizona Cardinals during 10 seasons (2003-12). He ended his career at the Cardinals, where he spent two seasons (2011-12), appeared in 32 games and registered two pockets. Prior to his time with Arizona, Eason spent four seasons (2007-10) with the Steelers, helping the team play two Super Bowl tournaments, including a Super Bowl XLIII victory in the ’08 season. He was a teammate in Pittsburgh with the former Auburn standout and current collaborator, Kendall Simmons.
Eason was originally a fourth-round pick by the Denver Broncos in the 2003 NFL Draft, but spent his rookie season on Reserve / Injured after suffering an Achilles injury during training camp. The following season, Eason was again part of the Broncos’ active list before being left out and signed by the Browns, with whom he played three seasons, from 2004 onwards.
Eason, a native of Lyons, Ga., Played college football at Clemson, where he played on the defensive line and became the first football player in the school’s history to qualify for two years, and in August 2001 he degree in sociology. In 2008, he earned his master’s degree in human resources. Eason played in 47 games with 35 starts for the Tigers and scored 15 bags and 30 tackles for losses. He was a two-time captain of his junior and senior seasons and earned the All-ACC first-class honor as a senior defensive tackle.