Former NFL coach charged with OWI after crash

Former Jacksonville Jaguars and Las Vegas Raiders head coach Jack Del Rio was arrested last week for operating a vehicle while intoxicated, according to a Madison (Wisconsin) Police Department incident report.

Del Rio will resign his role as a senior adviser with the University of Wisconsin football team Monday, Badgers head coach Luke Fickell announced.

‘He’s going to move forward and he’s going to resign and move on,’ Fickell told reporters Monday. ‘But it’s a tough situation. Decisions that all of us have to be able to take full responsibility for. So that’s what Jack will do, and we’ll continue to move forward.’

Around 12:30 a.m. Friday morning, Del Rio crashed a vehicle into a street sign and broke a fence before coming to a stop in a yard.

Witnesses directed the responding officers to Del Rio, who was walking away from the scene, according to the report. Del Rio, 61, showed signs of impairment and told police he was driving, the report said. He was charged with first-offense operating while intoxicated and was released.

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“I’m grateful to Coach Fickell and the University of Wisconsin for the opportunity to work with such a talented coaching and support staff and some of the best young football players in the country,’ Del Rio said in a statement to USA TODAY.

He added: “I have decided to step away from my position with the team, so they can focus all their attention on the remainder of the season.”

Del Rio coached the Jaguars from 2003-11, when he was fired after Week 12. He went 68-71 and made the playoffs twice.

The Denver Broncos hired him as defensive coordinator for three seasons before he had another chance as a head coach, this time with the Raiders (2015-17). He made the postseason in the 2016 season with the ‘Silver and Black’ but a 6-10 campaign the next season led to his dismissal.

Del Rio was the Washington Commanders defensive coordinator under Ron Rivera for four seasons (2020-24) and was fired before the end of that regime’s final season in charge.

Del Rio played in the NFL for 10 years following his collegiate career at Southern Cal.

This post appeared first on USA TODAY