- The Washington Times - Thursday, January 24, 2019

The Washington Redskins hired Ray Horton to be their defensive backs coach Thursday, a source confirmed.

Horton, 58, last coached in the NFL in 2016 when he was the defensive coordinator for the Cleveland Browns. He also served as the coordinator in Arizona (2011-12) and Tennessee (2014-15).

Horton replaces Torrian Gray, who left to take the same job at the University of Florida.

This is the second coaching vacancy the Redskins have filled this offseason. The team also hired Nate Kaczor to replace Ben Kotwica, who joined the Atlanta Falcons. They still need to replace former outside linebackers coach Kirk Olivadotti, who joined former Redskins assistant Matt LaFleur in Green Bay.

Team president Bruce Allen said Tuesday that coach Jay Gruden remained in Ashburn to interview coaching candidates instead of attending the Senior Bowl.

Horton will work with a defensive backs group composed of veterans and inexperienced players. After Quinton Dunbar suffered a nerve injury, the Redskins relied upon rookies Greg Stroman, Adonis Alexander and Danny Johnson opposite Josh Norman in 2018.

Washington’s passing defense ranked 11th in defensive efficiency and 15th in yards allowed per game (237.1).

• Matthew Paras can be reached at mparas@washingtontimes.com.

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