Former Jacksonville Jaguars head coach and current Denver Broncos defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio was spotted at Los Angeles International Airport on Sunday, according to a tweet from University of Houston tennis coach Patrick Sullivan.
Here’s what Sullivan tweeted:
Just spotted Jack Del Rio in LAX #USC
— Patrick Sullivan (@coachPSully) September 30, 2013
Sullivan speculated that Del Rio could have been in LA to meet with USC about the football team’s coaching vacancy, which is exactly how everyone should interpret the spotting.
The Trojans fired Lane Kiffin on Sunday morning following the team’s 62-41 loss to Arizona State on Saturday night. Del Rio’s Broncos crushed the Philadelphia Eagles 52-20 on Sunday in Denver.
Del Rio, who was an All-American linebacker at USC and played baseball at the school, has been mentioned as one of the candidates to fill the vacancy created by Kiffin’s firing. Del Rio was the head coach of the Jacksonville Jaguars from 2003-2011. His career record was 68-71, and he led the team to the playoffs twice, where they went 1-2. Del Rio was also mentioned as a candidate for the job that went to Kiffin after Pete Carroll left for Seattle.
The Broncos ranked fourth in the NFL last season after allowing just 18.1 points per game. The team’s defense has played well through four games this season despite not having top players Von Miller and Elvis Dumervil.
Del Rio’s contract expires after the season. He reportedly would stay with the Broncos through the season, meaning USC would have to wait for him to join the program if they want him as coach.
“There isn’t anything to say. It’s all speculation at this point, I’ve got a job to do here, my focus is right there,” Del Rio said Sunday, via ESPN.
In addition to Del Rio, Jeff Fisher has been mentioned as a candidate for the job. Like Del Rio, he is a former USC player and longtime NFL coach. He is said to be uninterested in the job. Vanderbilt’s James Franklin is also said to be a top target of the Trojans.
