Jack Del Rio has been named the interim head coach of the Denver Broncos, ESPN's Adam Schefter revealed Monday. Del Rio will take over for John Fox, who will miss four to six weeks to recover from heart surgery. Fox was admitted to a hospital Saturday after suffering chest pains while on a golf course.
Jack Del Rio named Broncos interim head coach
Jack Del Rio will helm the Denver Broncos with John Fox expected to miss four to six weeks recovering from heart surgery.
Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports
Del Rio was the expected choice for football operations director John Elway following Fox’s sudden health issues. The second-year defensive coordinator is the only member of the Broncos’ coaching staff with extensive head coaching experience. Offensive coordinator Adam Gase and special team coordinator Jeff Rodgers have never run an NFL team. Running backs coach Eric Studesville was the interim head coach of the Broncos in 2010 after Josh McDaniels was fired.
Del Rio was the head coach of the Jacksonville Jaguars from 2003 to 2011, where he compiled a 68-71 regular season record and a 1-2 playoff record over nine seasons. Wide receiver Eric Decker offered praise for Del Rio speaking with the Denver Post this past weekend.
“I don’t know who they’re going to pick, but if it’s Jack, even though we as an offense haven’t spent a lot of time with him, he has a strong presence throughout the building and in the lunchroom,” Decker said. “He’s always having conversations with guys. He’s tried to get to know all the guys. I think that will make it an easy transition if he is picked because he’s been there, he’s done that.”
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