Jaguars Fire Head Coach Jack Del Rio
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (CBSMiami.com) – Longtime Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Jack Del Rio was fired Tuesday after his team stumbled to a 3-8 record this season.
Del Rio's job was in jeopardy before the season started. Jaguars owner Wayne Weaver said the coach needed to make the playoffs to stay on the sidelines for another year in Jacksonville.
Del Rio put together a 69-73 record in Jacksonville, including going 1-2 in the two playoff appearances. But the Jaguars could never de-throne the Indianapolis Colts to win the AFC South.
Jaguars fans have wanted Del Rio gone for years, with the uproar being the most evident after the team went 5-11 in 2008. But Del Rio has no one to blame but himself for his departure.
The former Jags head coach continually bungled the quarterback position and lied to the players. In 2003, he benched Mark Brunell and gave rookie Byron Leftwich the job before he told the players.
In 2007, he repeatedly said Leftwich was his starting quarterback in the preseason and then cut him just days before the season opener.
He did the same thing this season when he cut David Garrard just five days before the start of the regular season.
Del Rio and his staff have also horribly mismanaged the development of rookie quarterback Blaine Gabbert. The rookie has regressed almost every week and desperately needs a new offense that can maximize his ability.
Jaguars defensive coordinator Mel Tucker will be the team's interim head coach.
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