Washington Commanders defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio issued an apology Wednesday for referring to the insurrection at the U.S. Capitol in January 2021 as a “dust-up,” but stood by his comments “condemning violence in communities across the country.”
His apology, posted to Twitter, came hour after he defended his original tweet from earlier in the week comparing reactions to the George Floyd protests to those of the Capitol insurrection.
“I made comments earlier today in referencing the attack that took place on the United States Capitol on January 6, 2021. Referencing that situation as a dust-up was irresponsible and negligent and I am sorry,” Del Rio posted. “I stand by my comments condemning violence in communities across the country. I say that while also expressing my support as an American citizen for peaceful protest in our country.”
— Jack Del Rio (@coachdelrio) June 8, 2022
Earlier Wednesday, Del Rio defended a tweet he wrote earlier in the week that questioned why protests following the murder of George Floyd in 2020 were not being discussed in the same manner as the insurrection at the capitol.
“Would love to understand ‘the whole story’ about why the summer of riots, looting, burning and the destruction of personal property is never discussed but this is ??? #CommonSense,” Del Rio wrote Monday on Twitter.
Would love to understand “the whole story ” about why the summer of riots, looting, burning and the destruction of personal property is never discussed but this is ???#CommonSense
— Jack Del Rio (@coachdelrio) June 7, 2022
Del Rio, 59, stood by his statements on Wednesday.
“I’m just expressing myself, and I think we all as Americans have a right to express ourselves, especially if you’re being respectful,” Del Rio told reporters. “I just asked a simple question, really — let’s get right down to it.
“Why are we not looking into those things? Because it’s kind of hard for me to say, I can realistically look at it, I can look at images on the TV, people’s livelihoods are being destroyed, businesses are being burned down, no problem. And then we have a dust-up at the Capitol, nothing burned down, and we’re going to make that a major deal.
“I just think it’s kind of two standards, and if we apply the same standard and we’re going to be reasonable with each other, let’s have a discussion. That’s all it was. Let’s have a discussion. We’re Americans. Let’s talk it through.”
When asked if Del Rio thinks his tweets have any affect on the Black players on the team, and that he compared the situation surrounding Floyd to the attack on the Capitol, he said the following:
“Uh no. No, I don’t think race had anything to do with that incident. So, no.”
Del Rio, who is entering his third season with the team, also said he wasn’t concerned if some of the players take issue with his personal beliefs, or if his stance is counter to those of the some players.
“Anything that I ever say or write, I’d be comfortable saying or writing in front of everybody that I work with, players and coaches,” he said. “I express myself as an American. We have that ability. I love this country. I believe what I believe and I’ve said what I want to say. Every now and then, there are some people that get offended by it.”
Washington head coach Ron Rivera declined to comment on Del Rio’s statements.
“I’m not gonna talk about the stuff that I talk with my coaches about, especially stuff that’s off the field and not pertaining to football,” Rivera said Wednesday. “It’s just everyone’s entitled to their opinion now.”
–Field Level Media
