The Washington Commanders have relieved defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio of his duties, according to an announcement made by coach Ron Rivera on Friday. This decision comes in the wake of the team’s defensive struggles, with their performance plummeting to the bottom of the NFL rankings despite high preseason expectations. The Commanders, currently holding a 4-8 record, have suffered three consecutive losses. This includes a significant 45-10 defeat to the Dallas Cowboys on Thursday.
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Their overall performance has been disappointing, losing eight of the past 10 games. Hopes were high for the defense to be a consistent force, especially with the addition of new options on offense. Instead, it became a significant challenge for the team. Feeling the mounting pressure as losses continued to accrue, Rivera also made the decision to terminate defensive backs coach Brent Vieselmeyer. The head coach is taking a proactive approach, announcing that he would personally assume the defensive play calling responsibilities for the remainder of the season.
During a video conference call on Friday afternoon, Rivera explained the decision, stating, “If you don’t change things, can you expect things to change? So that’s what I’m doing, to see if things will change.”
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The Commanders’ defense currently ranks last in points allowed and 29th in yards allowed, a stark contrast to their seventh and third rankings in the same categories just a year ago. The team struggled to prevent big plays and failed to create turnovers, with a league-high 49 pass plays of 20 or more yards allowed and no interceptions in the past six games. Rivera acknowledged the hard work put in by Del Rio and Vieselmeyer but expressed that, for some reason, things weren’t coming together.
The decision to make coaching changes was prompted by the team’s disappointing performance, particularly in the recent loss to the Cowboys. Rivera emphasized that the responsibility for the team’s struggles lies with both coaches and players collectively. In terms of on-field changes, he hinted at playing some individuals differently but did not provide specific details. Having last called plays with the Carolina Panthers in 2019, he acknowledged that there would be some natural differences in his approach, bringing a unique perspective to the coaching role.
