NAACP Calls for Commanders' Jack Del Rio to Resign or Be Fired After Jan. 6 Comments

In response to Jack Del Rio's recent comments about the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection at the United States Capitol, the NAACP is calling for the Washington Commanders defensive coordinator to resign or be fired.

NAACP president Derrick Johnson issued a statement calling Del Rio's comments "offensive and ignorant" and saying he "can't coach a majority Black team while turning your back on the Black community."

During a press conference Wednesday, Del Rio called the Capitol breach a "dust-up." He was asked about the topic after responding to a tweet by equating the insurrection to the civil unrest in the summer of 2020 over police violence sparked by George Floyd's murder by Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin.

Amid criticism of his both his tweet and press-conference comment, Del Rio issued an apology on Twitter:

In response to his statement about supporting peaceful protests, ESPN's Kimberley A. Martin posted a screenshot of Del Rio's comments about not wanting players to protest during the national anthem when he was head coach of the Oakland Raiders in 2016.

Del Rio has a history of generating controversy on social media. He previously shared a fake picture of New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez on Twitter in 2020.

Per Pro Football Talk's Mike Florio, the Commanders had no comment in response to Del Rio's original tweet from Monday.

The House Committee investigating the Jan. 6 riot at the Capitol is scheduled to hold its initial public hearings Thursday. It will be the first time the committee releases "newly unearthed evidence" revealed during its investigation.

There has been no indication that the Commanders are considering making a change at defensive coordinator.

Del Rio is entering his third season on Ron Rivera's coaching staff. The 59-year-old was hired in January 2020. He sat out the previous two seasons after being fired by the Raiders following a 6-10 record in 2017.