Why Commanders fired defensive line coach Sam Mills III a month before regular season
Commanders defensive line coach Sam Mills III spent last weekend in Canton, Ohio as his father Sam Mills II was posthumously inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. On Tuesday he learned that he was unemployed.
The commanders announced that Mills was relieved of his duties as the team’s defensive line coach and that assistant defensive line coach Jeff Zgonina was promoted to that position.
“Jeff played the game so he has a tremendous amount of experience and knowledge to share with the players,” said coach Ron Rivera. “He has tremendous enthusiasm, so he will continue to be that guy for her.”
The decision comes just four days before the team’s opening game against the Panthers on Aug. 13 and 33 days before the team’s season-opener against the Jaguars on Sept. 11.
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Because of this, Washington has decided to part ways with Mills.
Why Commanders Fired Sam Mills III
The decision to let Mills go comes as no surprise. It’s the timing that’s more shocking.
NBC Sports Washington reported in January that Mills “didn’t have the ear of the position group and suggested there was an opportunity for a coaching change at the position.
Despite the Commanders boasting one of the best trios of defenders in Jonathan Allen, Chase Young and Daron Payne, Washington only had the 11th-best pass rush score and 17th-most sacks in the NFL at 38, according to Pro Football Focus. although Young missed eight games.
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Rivera described the decision as “very difficult” but said it was something he watched during the offseason and at training camp and decided it “must be done.”
“I’ve known Sam for a long time and he’s a very good football coach and I really appreciate everything he’s done,” Rivera said. “He helped us win the division in our freshman year and last year it just got tough. But there are some things I thought I wanted to change.”
Mills was originally hired in 2005 as an assistant coach with the Panthers, with whom his father spent the last three years of his pro career. Mills’ father was an assistant defensive coach and linebacker coach with the Panthers until his death on April 18, 2005, from complications from cancer.
When Rivera was named Carolina’s head coach in 2011, he promoted Mills to assistant defensive line coach. For the past two years with the Panthers, Mills was the team’s defensive line coach.
When Rivera coached Washington in 2020, Mills came along as defensive line coach.
Allen told the Richmond Times Dispatch that people in the NFL need to remember “it’s a great game, but it’s a terrible business.”
“Obviously it wasn’t ideal for him, but as a team we have to focus and keep going,” said Allen. “I love Coach Sam and wish him the best, but my focus is on everyone who is here and making them better. That’s what I’ll focus on.”