The Washington Commanders fired defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio on Friday. They also fired defensive backs coach Brent Vieselmeyer.
The firings come after Commanders' head coach Ron Rivera recommended them. Washington has now lost three games in a row and eight of their last ten games.
"I mean it's not an indictment of Jack and Brent because those guys worked their asses off trying to get things right and trying to do things for us," Rivera said. "It's just, for whatever reason, it wasn't coming together. We haven't played as well as we would like to have this season. We're all culpable, believe me. We all are, coaches and players as a group."
Del Rio joined Washington in 2020. The defense was up and down in the three seasons Del Rio was with the team. In 2020 and 2022, Washington's defense was in the top ten in points and yards allowed. In 2021 and this year, the defense has been among the worst in the NFL. This season, the Commanders' defense has allowed the most points in the league with 350 points, allowed 4,532 yards, and has given up an NFL-high 28 touchdown passes.
Rivera will take over the play-calling for the defense for the rest of the season. Cristian Garcia will be the interim defensive backs coach. After losing to the Dallas Cowboys on Thanksgiving, the Commanders are now 4-8 and in third place in the NFC East. Rivera has dismissed concerns about his job. If the Commanders don’t improve, then Rivera’s job might be in jeopardy.
(Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
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