Report: Jack Del Rio was a candidate for Bengals’ defensive coordinator job
Newly hired Cincinnati Bengals head coach Zac Taylor is relatively young and inexperienced, so it would make sense that his coaching staff makes up for that.
Early on, that appears to be the direction Taylor is going after hiring Brian Callahan as offensive coordinator and Darrin Simmons as special teams coordinator. However, there still remains an opening at defensive coordinator.
While no one is a shoo-in for that position, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports that Jack Del Rio is a hot name and is likely to interview with the Bengals this week.
With Zac Taylor officially becoming #Bengals head coach, his staff is crystallizing: Brian Callahan as OC. Darrin Simmons staying as special teams coordinator. Nothing firm on DC, but one name to watch is Jack Del Rio, who likely will interview this week.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) February 4, 2019
Shortly after the original report, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport chimed and and cited sources who said the two sides agreed they “weren’t a perfect fit.”
After potential DC Jack Del Rio and new #Bengals coach Zac Taylor pondered the future, both sides decided it wasn’t a perfect fit, sources say. They chatted early and made this call, instead. https://t.co/dL3DAXaZuh
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) February 5, 2019
Del Rio went 6-10 with the Oakland Raiders in 2017, and was fired after his third year on the job so the organization could bring back Jon Gruden. He finished with a record of 25-23 as the head coach in Oakland.
Prior to being hired by the Raiders, Del Rio was the defensive coordinator for the Denver Broncos from 2012-2014. He also drew interest from the New York Giants last year before they ultimately hired James Bettcher.
