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Del Rio heads to Denver

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Former Jaguars coach Jack Del Rio could have taken a year off and collected his full salary for 2012, the final year of his contract.  Instead, he’ll go back to work, for no extra money.

Adam Schefter of ESPN reports that Del Rio has been hired to serve as the Broncos’ defensive coordinator.

The move reunites Del Rio with coach John Fox.  They worked together in Carolina a decade ago, in Fox’s first year as coach of the Panthers.  Del Rio served as defensive coordinator until becoming the Jaguars’ head coach in 2003.

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42 Responses to “Del Rio heads to Denver”
  1. trbowman says: Jan 27, 2012 9:22 PM

    Jack Del Rio – “Please tell me we play Blaine Gabbert this season.”

  2. i10east says: Jan 27, 2012 9:29 PM

    ^^^They don’t play. DEN, keep chopping wood.

  3. robigd says: Jan 27, 2012 9:31 PM

    Do DC’s get to wear pleather jackets?

  4. doggz109 says: Jan 27, 2012 9:31 PM

    The jags have almost always had a solid defense…..good pick up after losing Dennis Allen.

  5. therillest says: Jan 27, 2012 9:32 PM

    This is the guy that didn’t want Tebow in Jacksonville and he ends up with him anyway….Got to love the irony!

  6. bigshirk says: Jan 27, 2012 9:32 PM

    ^^ LOL Gabbert is such trash.

  7. commandercornpone says: Jan 27, 2012 9:33 PM

    he isnt over his head as a dc.

  8. tebowspeech says: Jan 27, 2012 9:35 PM

    Tim Tebow > extra money

  9. 7pints says: Jan 27, 2012 9:36 PM

    Great hire! Great defensive mind! I know other AFC West fans will opine that it’s not a big deal, but deep down you know you are saying “damn!”.

  10. jjwalkerisdynomite says: Jan 27, 2012 9:36 PM

    The two headed monster in Fox and Del Rio is back. Finally something in Denver to talk about!

  11. jville808 says: Jan 27, 2012 9:37 PM

    Tim Tebow better step it up next season, because the defense is about to turn vanilla and soft. Del Rio had been calling the D in Jax before this past season after Mike Smith left and they were awful every year he did. I actually feel kind of bad for Denver, I like Tebow, just don’t think he will get it done like he did this year with a Del Rio led defense.

  12. denverhighrize says: Jan 27, 2012 9:37 PM

    Nooooooooo!!!!!!

  13. joe3001 says: Jan 27, 2012 9:45 PM

    Lets hope they don’t have a water shortage in Denver if Del Rio is coming to town . . .

    http://www.firstcoastnews.com/news/story.aspx?storyid=160327

    “Also on the list is a familiar name, Jaguars Head Coach Jack Del Rio.  He’s at number 7 with close to 900,000 gallons of usage between October 1, 2009 and June 30, 2010.  He made the list back in 2007 as well, but with a much higher water usage of more than 1.2 million gallons.”

  14. benmci says: Jan 27, 2012 9:46 PM

    Thank goodness – Del Rio has been known to kill an offense as a head coach. Jack stay with what you know (D Coord) because you will not be in high demand- I mean there is no demand for you as a HC.

  15. mrplow3 says: Jan 27, 2012 9:47 PM

    Great hire. I’d go as far to say that he’s actually an upgrade.

    I may be in the minority but after watching a dozen Denver games this year, I’d say the defense was VASTLY overated.

    The ball control, no pass offense certainly helped this D look better than it was.

    Let’s not forget when they faced a real offense in the playoffs, they gave up 35 points in less than a half of football.

    Congrats Bronco fans on a good hire!

  16. christhefish says: Jan 27, 2012 9:47 PM

    I bet he will love that Colorado Spring water…

  17. ibreathefootball says: Jan 27, 2012 9:47 PM

    The Broncos Defense were 24th in Points Against this past season, and could use another play-maker in the secondary to matchup better versus the elite passing teams.

    Overall for Jack Del Rio, I think he has got to be thrilled (and same with Denver). He just saw Dennis Allen go from DB coach in New Orleans, to being the Defensive Coordinator in Denver for 1 season and now he’s an NFL Head Coach with the Oakland Raiders. The only question is, will he bring the 3-4 defense? Very good hire.

  18. joeymichaelsstudios says: Jan 27, 2012 9:48 PM

    Del-Rio to Denver?…866 Miles.

  19. maddenisfordorks says: Jan 27, 2012 10:00 PM

    That’s great news for the rest of the AFC west

  20. Deb says: Jan 27, 2012 10:22 PM

    Good guy, class act. Glad to see him find a new home.

  21. skolvikesskol says: Jan 27, 2012 10:22 PM

    Ok this story has the all time big dummies.

    1. Del rio. U get paid to not coach + anything else. Dumb.

    2. The waterboy. Who cares?! TROLL!!!

  22. kahnsbushymustache says: Jan 27, 2012 10:27 PM

    I hope John Fox doesn’t mind Del Rio coming in late and leaving early…

  23. milehigh85 says: Jan 27, 2012 10:45 PM

    Mr plow… You only watched a dozen games?? I watchef, cheered, screamed and cried on the whole trip… Same goes for the last 27 seasons! Forgive me if I don’t give a flying f*** about your opinion

  24. milehigh85 says: Jan 27, 2012 10:48 PM

    Mi bad..

  25. maddenisfordorks says: Jan 27, 2012 11:12 PM

    Get ready for the phrase “we’re gonna continue to work”

    And seriously watch out for axes in the locker room. That whole stunt cost Jax our pro bowl punter.

  26. megabeast37215 says: Jan 27, 2012 11:23 PM

    He will probably do an ok job. He destroyed himself here in Jax bc everytime the team sucked he blamed his staff and after doing it for 7+ years, no one worth a damn would work for him. The coaching staff (especially on the offensive side of the ball) was a complete joke. He fired a ton of good receivers coaches to cover up for the fact that his team drafted Matt Jones, Reggie Williams, Ernest Wilford and signed Jerry Porter. With that dearth of talent even the best WR coach is going to look like a turd.

    Also Del Rio had no say in drafting Tebow, that one was all Gene Smith.

  27. hanktheking says: Jan 27, 2012 11:33 PM

    Solid hire for a team who lost their DC this late into the process. You wanna talk about over rated? Let’s talk Dennis Allen.

  28. roamingabriel says: Jan 27, 2012 11:38 PM

    You Donks fans better hope he’s good because there’s no way you’re going to score much unless Quinn wins the QB competition…

  29. chizums says: Jan 28, 2012 1:15 AM

    As someone who follows the Jags, I can’t help but cringe when reading that Del Rio is a “great hire.”

    Those of you who say that simply don’t have any insight whatsoever into the matter beyond a vague idea of where the Jags defense ranked every season.

  30. beauregard says: Jan 28, 2012 1:18 AM

    This is very bad news for the poor raiders. Denver will sweep Oakland for sure now in 2012.

  31. chilomane says: Jan 28, 2012 1:49 AM

    Hope he stays for more then one season.Denver is ahead but our lucky season could raise dangerous hope.Go Broncos!

  32. redstar504 says: Jan 28, 2012 3:10 AM

    That’s a great hire. He’s a solid defensive mind and the Jags always had a well preforming defense throughout his tenure there.

    My only question would be is his heart going to be in it. You could just see last season, and the past few that he looked like he was burned out. I think a year or so off for this guy might have done him some good, but getting a chance to coach that Denver-D and all that talent is hard to pass up.

    If he has a couple of decent seasons bailing Tebow/Jesus out he just might even get himself back inline for a second shot at an HC job.

  33. asublimeday says: Jan 28, 2012 4:08 AM

    He knew if he disappeared for a year he’d never work again

  34. hjworton46 says: Jan 28, 2012 6:49 AM

    The DC position has been a revolving door in Denver for years now. The last thing we need is another guy who’ll leave after a season. We should’ve promoted from within, stability and consistency of message is vital for Denver D.

  35. pantherlouie says: Jan 28, 2012 8:05 AM

    Del Rio was a good D Coordinator in Carolina and I hated it when he left. I think it’s a good move for Denver.

  36. purplengold says: Jan 28, 2012 8:51 AM

    He’ll make a great DC.

  37. broncofire says: Jan 28, 2012 8:57 AM

    Great hire by John Fox and John Elway! Del Rio is better than Allen!

  38. tailgatersanimal says: Jan 28, 2012 9:07 AM

    He is a good guy, represented our franchise without scandal for nine years. He’ll get another shot at head coach and inherits a terrific talent laden defense. Good luck to the defense.

    It is incredibly ironic that with all of the drama two drafts ago about drafting Hezues Tebow that Del Rio is joining forces.

  39. swagjag says: Jan 28, 2012 9:59 AM

    When opposing teams score, he will just blame one of his assistants.

  40. milehigh11 says: Jan 29, 2012 5:53 PM

    Great pick-up by Denver. Del Rio led Jacksonville to Top 7 defenses in every year from ’03 to ’11. Broncos get to stay with McCoy as OC for another year to help work with Tebow, and Elway is there for an entire offseason to mentor. Pick-up a DT and CB in the draft with some talent and the Broncos are on the rise again. It’s straight Foxy!

  41. ready4doomboom says: Jan 30, 2012 2:21 PM

    It’s funny to see people say it’s a bad move for Denver. Well, since Denver has had 7 DC’s in 7 yrs. I think a hire is a hire at this point. Bonus is that JDR has had good D’s and has a ton of HC experience. So I am happy with the hire. The kicker is if he stays more than one yr lol.

    Wishful thinking that would make this a good hire. Our D goes from 24th to 14th in one season, oh and he stays. Denver needs to generate more TO’s as well.

    Denver cannot compete with the High Octane O’s such as Pats, GB, NO’s, and when they lose the TO battle.

    Radom thought:

    I wish the offseason Free Agency in 2012 was like 2011′s. That was nuts!

  42. jville808 says: Jan 31, 2012 10:51 AM

    milehigh11 says:Jan 29, 2012 5:53 PM

    Great pick-up by Denver. Del Rio led Jacksonville to Top 7 defenses in every year from ’03 to ’11. Broncos get to stay with McCoy as OC for another year to help work with Tebow, and Elway is there for an entire offseason to mentor. Pick-up a DT and CB in the draft with some talent and the Broncos are on the rise again. It’s straight Foxy!

    _________________________________

    Top 7 every year? Not hardly. Take a look at Jacksonville’s defensive standings in 2009 & 2010. THOSE are Del Rio led defenses, and a better sample of what you’re getting.

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