Jack Del Rio releases statement after resigning from Wisconsin football staff

Former Wisconsin football staffer Jack Del Rio has released a statement after resigning from his position as Special Assistant To The Head Coach due to a drunk driving incident last week.

Del Rio was arrested for operating a vehicle while intoxicated on Friday. He was driving, hit a street sign and broke a fence, according to ESPN’s Adam Rittenberg.

Here is the statement from Jack Del Rio, which Rittenberg posted on Twitter:

“I’m grateful to Coach Fickell and the University of Wisconsin for the opportunity to work with such a talented coaching and support staff and some of the best young football players in the country,” Jack Del Rio said. “I have decided to step away from my position with the team, so they can focus all their attention on the remainder of the season.”

Wisconsin head coach Luke Fickell announced earlier on Monday that Del Rio would be resigning after the arrest.

“It’s a tough situation, decisions that all of us have to be able to take full responsibility for,” Fickell said during his presser. “So that’s what Jack will do and we’ll continue to move forward.”

Prior to coming to Wisconsin, Del Rio was most recently the defensive coordinator for the Washington Commanders from 2020-2023. He has also worked as the head coach of the Jacksonville Jaguars and Oakland Raiders.

Back before the season, Fickell explained why he was bringing in Jack Del Rio to his staff.

“There’s a lot of different things that I was looking for and didn’t find somebody. So it wasn’t like we were just going to do it. Then in camp Jack came to visit and spent two-and-a-half days with us. And it just kind of was one of those things that was pretty unique. He was actually open to doing something and I had been kind of talking about that,” Luke Fickell said.

“So for me to have somebody in here who’s obviously got a different eye and a uniqueness to be able to communicate with me, but also to give us some other perspectives on things, I think it can be a really good thing for us.”