Washington Football Team defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio is expected to be the team’s Plan B in the event head coach Ron Rivera has to step away, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.
Rivera dropped a bombshell, announcing he was diagnosed with cancer in the lymph node. He told ESPN’s Adam Schefter he will continue to coach Washington. Rivera classified his situation as “very treatable and curable.” He added, It will be “business as usual” for now, but the team had a Plan B in place. Del Rio will be that Plan B.
Rivera hired Del Rio as Washington’s defensive coordinator shortly after he was named head coach in January of this year.
Del Rio is the most obvious choice given his extensive coaching experience. He was the head coach of the Jacksonville Jaguars from 2003-2011. And then with the Oakland Raiders from 2015-17.
In Jacksonville, Del Rio compiled a record of 68-71, leading the Jaguars to the playoffs two seasons. He lasted three seasons with the Raiders, going 25-23. The Raiders made the postseason in 2016 under Del Rio.
He also has experience briefly filling in as an interim head coach. He did so with the Denver Broncos in 2013 while then-head coach John Fox stepped away three weeks for aortic valve replacement.
Certainly, Washington hopes Rivera’s treatment will go as smoothly as possible and there would be no need for Del Rio to be interim head coach. But, their plan to go with Del Rio seems very much ideal in this situation.
