Jack Del Rio arrested for OWI after crashing his car

Sep 16, 2021; Landover, Maryland, USA; Washington Football Team defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio looks on before a game against the New York Giants at FedExField. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports

Former NFL head Jack Del Rio was arrested over the weekend for operating a vehicle while intoxicated after he crashed his car in Wisconsin.

According to an incident report that was obtained by ESPN’s Adam Rittenberg, Del Rio was driving shortly after midnight on Friday near the University of Wisconsin campus in Madison when his vehicle crashed into a street sign, broke a fence and came to rest in someone’s yard. Witnesses called police, who found Del Rio walking away from the scene of the accident when they arrived.

Del Rio, who is the senior adviser to Wisconsin head coach Luke Fickell, was not injured. The 61-year-old admitted he had been driving the vehicle, and officers felt he showed “signs of impairment.” Madison Police arrested Del Rio for first-time OWI and he was later released.

Wisconsin said in a statement that the school is aware of the incident and taking the matter “very seriously.”

Del Rio was hired by Wisconsin in an advisory role prior to the season. He last worked in the NFL as the defensive coordinator with the Washington Commanders last year but was fired midway through the season. Del Rio had been with the Commanders since 2020, when he was hired by Ron Rivera.

Del Rio was the head coach of the then-Oakland Raiders for three seasons from 2015-2017 prior to landing in Washington. He took some time off between his stints with the Raiders and Commanders.

There was a point years ago when Del Rio was linked to a prominent college head coach job, but this is his first season working for a college program.

Del Rio was also the head coach of the Jacksonville Jaguars from 2003-2011 and has worked as a defensive assistant for several others teams since he retired from playing linebacker in the 1990s.