January 1, NAACP President Calls for Firing of NFL Coach

Derrick Johnson, the president of the NAACP, has called for an NFL coach to be fired over his “offensive and ignorant” comments about the House select committee investigating the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riot.

“I see images on the TV, people’s livelihoods are being destroyed, businesses are being burned down, no problem,” said Jack Del Rio, the coach of the Washington Commanders. “And then we have a dust-up at the Capitol, nothing burned down, and we’re going to make that a major deal.”

Del Rio apologized for his comments on Wednesday evening, saying that characterizing Jan. 6 as “a dust-up was irresponsible and negligent,” but he stood by his “comments condemning violence in communities across the country.”

Despite the apology, Johnson called for Del Rio’s termination.

“It is time for Jack Del Rio to resign or be terminated,” Johnson said. “His comments could not have been more offensive and ignorant. The January 6th insurrection — an attempted coup — was far from a ‘dust-up.’ Each day we learn more and more on just how close our democracy came to autocracy.” 

“Downplaying the insurrection by comparing it to nationwide protests, which were in response to a public lynching, is twisted,” he added. “You can’t coach a majority Black team while turning your back on the Black community. It’s time for you to pack up and step off the field.”