Jack Del Rio has been backpedaling like his defensive backs ever since his January 6th “dust up” comments went viral.
Last week, before the January 6th hearings began, Del Rio decided to insert himself into the conversation by first bringing up the protests after George Floyd’s murder. Then he doubled down by calling the attempted coup on January 6th a “dust up” a day before the hearings began.
And that’s when he got chin checked by everyone outside of the MAGA and insurrection-denying crowds.
He made a half-hearted apology but no one was having it.
Washington Commanders head coach Ron Rivera fined him $100,000 for his ignorant remarks.
Hall of Famer Ed Reed blasted him on Twitter.
After the heat intensified, Del Rio deleted his Twitter account.
But the damage was done.
Today, according to Rivera, Jack Del Rio addressed the Washington Commanders football team and apologized for his January 6th comments.
Rivera also noted that Del Rio met with some players individually to discuss the remarks that earned him the $100k fine.
“He was very open, very forthright, very contrite and apologized and opened himself up to questions or opportunities for any players to come in and meet with him,” Rivera told reporters. “He’s already met with some of our players and talked to some of them about what was said. I’ve been told those meetings went very, very well. And so I’m very pleased with that.”
The Commanders’ head coach appeared satisfied with Del Rio’s apology and the latter’s understanding that words have consequences.
“I’m about reconciliation,” said Rivera. “We have to understand that when we do things like this, it impacts the community as well. We got to make sure the community understands that we understand and we get it. That’s important. So this was really about taking accountability and holding ourselves accountable, and then going forward and trying to reconcile with things.”
Supporters of Del Rio came to his defense with cries of First Amendment rights.
But the right to free speech also comes with the right to be checked, which is what happened.
Hopefully Jack Del Rio, and others who want to spout ignorance, learn their lesson.
In this current America, that’s a huge hope.
