The Washington Redskins are hiring former Carolina Panthers defensive line and game management coach Sam Mills III, according to The Athletic’s Joe Person.
Mills is the son of Panthers’ defensive great Sam Mills, who is the only player in that franchise’s history to have his number retired.
Mills III started with the Panthers in 2005 with strength and conditioning. He was Carolina’s defensive quality control coach from 2006-10. He was then promoted to assistant defensive line coach where he served under Rivera from 2011 until 2018 until he was promoted to defensive line coach.
Mills will be tasked with replacing the popular Jim Tomsula in Washington.
He will get to coach a defensive line that is highlighted by the Redskins’ stud trio of Matt Ioannidis, Jonathan Allen and Daron Payne. The group will also include 2019 first-round pick Montez Sweat as the team is switching to a 4-3 base defense.
Tomsula was credited for the early success of Ioannidis, Allen and Payne. The trio made the defensive front the Redskins’ greatest strength.
But as we’ve seen Rivera has focused on his inner circle, bringing a good deal of his former assistants from the Panthers. Mills joins Scott Turner (offensive coordinator), John Matsko (offensive line), Jim Hostler (wide receivers), and Steve Russ (linebackers) as the most notable former Panthers assistants to join Rivera in Washington.
