<
        >

          NFL Nation

          Redskins talk to Clancy Pendergast for defensive coordinator

          • John Keim, ESPN Staff WriterJan 19, 2015, 08:06 AM ET
            Close
              John Keim covers the Washington Commanders for ESPN. He joined ESPN in 2013 after a stint with the Washington Post. He started covering the team in 1994 for the Journal Newspapers and later for the Washington Examiner. He has authored/co-authored four books. You can also listen to him on 'The John Keim Report', which airs on ESPN Richmond radio, and follow him on Twitter @john_keim
            Follow on X

          The candidates were known, except for one. On the day of Scot McCloughan's news conference, Washington Redskins team president Bruce Allen said they were talking to another potential defensive coordinator.

          Finally, that name came out: former Arizona defensive coordinator Clancy Pendergast. ESPN's Adam Schefter reported Monday morning that the Redskins had talked to him. A team source said it happened "two Fridays ago," which would make it the same day as the McCloughan news conference. There's not a strong or deep connection to Pendergast, but there is a little recent history.

          That brings the total to seven prospective candidates: Pendergast, Joe Barry, Wade Phillips, Ed Donatell, Eric Mangini, Raheem Morris and Vic Fangio. The latter interviewed this past weekend, but left town without a formal offer. Chicago also interviewed Fangio this weekend. As of now, the other names have not surfaced for any other defensive coordinator openings.

          Pendergast has worked for five different NFL teams, serving as Arizona's defensive coordinator from 2004-08, but was fired one week after the Cardinals lost in the Super Bowl. He was Kansas City's defensive coordinator in 2009, but when the Chiefs fired head coach Todd Haley and hired Romeo Crennel, they also released Pendergast. Since that time, he was Cal's defensive coordinator from 2010-12 and was then Southern Cal's in 2013.

          Pendergast was out of football this past fall, but he did do one thing last summer: He met with Haslett to reportedly help him better defend Chip Kelly's offense and the zone-read. Pendergast had spent the previous several years defending that offense.

          "Jon Gruden had recommended me to Jay," Pendergast told Fox Sports. He also told the reporter, Bruce Feldman, that he gave Haslett some other tips.

          Pendergast said after the Redskins held the Eagles to 54 yards on 25 carries in a 37-34 loss in Week 3 that "Jim was happy. He called me right after the game."

          Pendergast's longest stint came as a defensive backs coach with Dallas; he coached there from 1996-2002. He has coached the 3-4 front that Washington has used the past five seasons.