Thursday was a big day for a pair of former Washington Commanders coaches.
Jack Del Rio, who served as Washington’s defensive coordinator for four seasons until he was fired on the day after Thanksgiving last November, has landed a new job for 2024. Del Rio will serve as a senior advisor to Wisconsin Badgers head coach Luke Fickell.
The 61-year-old Del Rio played 11 seasons in the NFL and immediately jumped into coaching. In 1997, Del Rio’s first coaching job was as an assistant strength coach with the New Orleans Saints. One year later, he moved to linebackers coach. After spending time with Baltimore and Carolina, Del Rio was named head coach of the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2003, where he remained for nine years.
BREAKING: Former NFL coach Jack Del Rio is joining the Wisconsin #Badgers as a Senior Advisor to Luke Fickell, per multiple sources. #OnWisconsin pic.twitter.com/fWyB6oEASo
— ESPN Madison (@ESPNMadison) August 29, 2024
After three years as Denver’s defensive coordinator, Del Rio received another head-coaching job, this time with the Raiders. He joined Ron Rivera in Washington in 2020. Last season, the Commanders were ranked dead last in multiple defensive categories despite significant assets devoted to that side of the ball.
This will be Del Rio’s first college job.
In addition to Del Rio landing a new job, so did Rivera.
Rivera worked with ESPN in the spring, but it wasn’t a permanent position. He recently started appearing on the NFL Network, and on Thursday, it became official. Rivera joined the NFL Network and will appear on shows such as “Good Morning Football” and NFL “GameDay Preview.”
Proud to continue my role with the NFL in a new position as on-air talent for shows like GameDay Preview and Good Morning Football! https://t.co/5SYx3DSLGQ
— Ron Rivera (@RiverboatRonHC) August 29, 2024
Rivera was fired in January, one day after the Commanders finished the 2023 season with a 4-13 record.
