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Oakland Raiders head coach Jack Del Rio Alameda

Source: MediaNews Group/Bay Area News via Getty Images / Getty

ASHBURN – Newly appointed Washington Football Team head coach Ron Rivera wasted no time making a high profile addition to his coaching staff, naming Jack Del Rio as the team’s defensive coordinator.

Del Rio, who spent the last year as an analyst for ESPN, was most recently the head coach of the Oakland Raiders between 2015-2017. Prior to that, he helped make the Denver Bronco’s defense one of the most dominant units in the league. Led by All-Pro Von Miller, Del Rio’s defense ranked in the top three for yards allowed twice in his three seasons at the helm.

As a player, Del Rio spent 11 years in the NFL as a linebacker. He was selected to the 1994 Pro Bowl. He got into coaching after his playing career, most notably as the linebackers coach for the Super Bowl XXXV champion Baltimore Ravens. Del Rio became the head coach of the Jacksonville Jaguars two seasons later where he would spend the next nine years.

In Washington, Del Rio is expected to transition the team’s base defense to a 4-3, instead of the 3-4 alignment they have used the last few seasons. Despite investing several high draft picks and a few marquee free agent signings, the Washington Football Team defense never lived up to expectations. The unit regularly finished in the bottom half of the league in yards allowed under previous defensive coordinator, Greg Manusky.

Fans took to twitter to express their excitement over Del Rio joining the Washington Football Team coaching staff.

It’s Official: Washington Football Team Hire Jack Del Rio as Defensive Coordinator  was originally published on theteam980.com