Washington, a 2012 NFL draft pick of the Philadelphia Eagles that played professionally for seven years before electing to coach full-time, joined the Lions in January 2020.
He was a starting offensive lineman on Miami Northwestern High School's 2007 state and national championship team, played collegiately at the University of Miami – where he received his Bachelor's degree – then played professionally with the Eagles, the then-St. Louis Rams, and with the CFL's Hamilton Tiger-Cats and Toronto Argonauts, where he was a part of Grey Cup Championship team.