Jack Del Rio discusses Super Bowl XXXV memories, what he learned from Billick and Ravens

The former Ravens assistant and Jacksonville head coach talked with Nestor and Brian Billick on Radio Row ahead of 2003 Super Bowl in San Diego.

SUMMARY KEYWORDS

coach, jack, mike singletary, brian, singletary, profession, talk, mike smith, baltimore, job, coaching profession, jacksonville, commit, ray, player, john elway, broadcaster, mike, nfl, marvin

SPEAKERS

Jack Del Rio, Nestor Aparicio, Brian Billick

Nestor Aparicio  00:00

He just getting around coach in it. I say, Coach, you

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Brian Billick  00:02

can do whatever you any better about yourself right now.

Nestor Aparicio  00:05

I think it’s growing. I mean, you know what I’m talking about. And Jack, first off, congratulations to you.

Jack Del Rio  00:10

Thank you nice to have you said,

Nestor Aparicio  00:11

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you know, Brian. Yeah, I

Jack Del Rio  00:13

do know Brian. Yeah, very well

Nestor Aparicio  00:15

give me give me the whole like blow down here. I mean the thanks appreciation already.

Jack Del Rio  00:19

I’ve already thanked him publicly, it’s getting to where it’s gotten a little out of hand. Embarrassing. And you don’t believe it? I would use I would use a different phrase that Brian uses from time to time appropriate radio

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Nestor Aparicio  00:31

is going down about 12 minutes we can we can just delete it out, put it back in if you want.

Jack Del Rio  00:35

No, no, no, no, I am. I am grateful for the opportunity that Brian gave me in the preparation that he basically helped me get going and and led to a head head job. So

Nestor Aparicio  00:44

when you hire him, do you know this is where he’s headed?

Brian Billick  00:48

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Well, you know what I saw on Jack, I’ve had a little experience with I think former players if they want to commit to the profession, and that’s the hard thing. Jack knows what I’m talking about. There’s a lot of pro players who say, Oh, yeah, I’ll coach pro ball. But then it’s well, whatever you mean, I gotta work on Tuesday. You mean wait a minute, how late? You’re gonna pay me how much but those that are willing to commit Mike Tice, Matt Cavanaugh, Jack Del Rey Singletary Mike Singletary without bringing out great hire, by

Nestor Aparicio  01:14

the way. Do you try to steal Singletary to like everybody else. But if you can get that former player, family member for crying out loud, you steal in everybody. But if you can get

Brian Billick  01:22

that former player with that perspective, the respect that Jack had when he came in with with a veteran group, you can’t just put anybody in with Ray Lewis Peterborough, where Jamie sharper at the time, the respect that Jack had when he came in those guys knowing the history that Jack had, and then Jack followed up with excellent teaching skills and then develop those skills as a coach and deserves to be where he’s at.

Nestor Aparicio  01:43

Jack getting this job? I guess you were considered to be a long shot or Phil savage.

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Jack Del Rio  01:48

I’d have to be a long shot.

Nestor Aparicio  01:49

How did you get this job? I mean, when your phone rings, who thought it up? who dreamed it up? I mean, this isn’t a thing where you throw resume out in the mail and for every jobs up? No. are happy Carolina, where are you?

Jack Del Rio  02:00

Well, I was very happy there and prepared in the event I get the opportunity to interview and interview went extraordinarily well. And here I am. What do you

Nestor Aparicio  02:10

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learn about the interviewing skills and all that stuff? I mean, getting these jobs. I mean, this is your one, dude. I mean, prepared.

Jack Del Rio  02:17

Being prepared is a good thing. And I think the next best thing is going in and being yourself and hoping that that’s the that’s the right fit. And that’s what happened here.

Nestor Aparicio  02:24

I think I learned so much from Brian the week he got hired and how everything changed. Everything felt different. I mean, I know that Brian has no way for either one of you to know that because I mean, from from the inside this being seen with Ted, maybe the only ones who would know or Kevin Byrne or Marvin Lewis people that are inside that building. What are you going to change in Jacksonville? What did you learn from this man about coming in? I mean, aside from Jack being on billboards, and in the i 95, in Jacksonville, which they pulled for the Ball Coach over here.

Brian Billick  02:52

Now there should be a face on the Billboard should Jack Del Rio to blow my face up the size? They did that? That was unkind it was? Yes. Yeah. Jack would be okay.

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Nestor Aparicio  03:01

There were some accidents on 83 that hadn’t been put because of that. Right? What did you learn from

Jack Del Rio  03:05

Brian? Well, I’ve learned there’s a lot of work to do. And the biggest thing is for me to create an environment much like he did, where you encourage coaches, players, everybody in the building to excel at what they do and be supportive of one goal and that is winning the championship. We were able to do that in our second year together in Baltimore, under Brian’s tutelage, and I hope to be able to do something even remotely along those lines down in Jacksonville.

Nestor Aparicio  03:27

Let’s talk about Mike Smith. He’s stealing your guys.

Brian Billick  03:30

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I know. I know. For a while there, I thought they’re gonna back the truck up and just just empty it, empty it up with but Mike’s it’s a great opportunity for Mike Smith’s what Jack alluded to Mike Smith, an outstanding coach, to now be given the opportunity to go on and coordinate for Jack. It’s great to see guys like that move up and move on. And he’s he’ll do a great job for him. And that the only way you can really repay those that have done those types of things for you is to go out and do the same thing for some others.

Nestor Aparicio  03:56

Jack, last comment for you. Just good luck. I know you got a million things to do here. I’m gonna hate you if we ever play you. I hope we do play that’s why it’s your place. Yeah, all right, it’s our place. We’ll give you a hero’s welcome upon return. Say welcome I’ll give Marvin when he comes in beautiful how do you look in teal teal your colors and flattering on you know you’ll

Jack Del Rio  04:18

have to tell me but we look forward to coming back to Baltimore. It’s a great great city and and so we’ll see you then Alright,

Nestor Aparicio  04:24

I gotta get you out here because we got classified Baltimore only information it’s all about your now the enemy. All right. And last token handshake for you, but be good, Jack. Thanks a lot. All the best. All right. All right, tell me what now

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Brian Billick  04:36

it’s really, really good till now. It’s exciting. It’s exciting to see Jack go through that now. It’s a great it’s a time in your life. You never forget that first chance to be a head coach. What he’s going through right now he’s gonna remember for the rest of his life.

Nestor Aparicio  04:52

And you did the same thing. You got hired, same week, same time. And I remember you coming down to Miami sitting in with me and we had no And each other for a week. And he now he’s going around and doing this whole tour. I mean, is it overwhelming what he’s going through for what you went through?

Brian Billick  05:09

I don’t think so you kind of you take it in stride, certainly the key is keep your priorities straight. And understand how this whole thing works that this, this process what this is about this as part of the NFL, there are some coaches, I think, mistakenly feel like it’s a distraction. I don’t want to deal with it. It’s not my job. But I tell you what, as a head coach, this is part of your job and you better be aware of the environment that your players are in as much as anything and so this is a part of the NFL is as much as anything, and you better learn what it’s about so

Nestor Aparicio  05:37

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much is surrounding yourself with good people. And I think as much as winning was all there and you took a lot of credit. Marvin took credit Ray took it everybody gets the credit. Sure. People come on, give me credit. I didn’t do anything. So cheer hard. But for what Jack’s going through to surround himself with the right people, you clearly did that because those people have now elevated themselves. And we talked about this a little bit last week. You came on for a couple of minutes. But in a mike Singletary you bring in a guy and a fridge was sitting right over here a minute ago, we were talking about Singletary and you bring in a champion, you brought a champion. And where did that start? How did that thing come to fruition was Singletary

Brian Billick  06:12

Well, a couple months ago if you remember Mike Singletary was approached and talked about maybe trying to get the Baylor job he had called Ozzie Newsome to consult. He’d known Ozzy to get some ideas about what he thought the viability was to have that was was it a good time to come into the profession? Because Mike had a great deal of passion to want to get into the coaching profession. Obviously, being a Baylor grad, that would have been an ideal situation for him. That showed me that there was that initial interest and the only question you know, Mike Singletary is gonna make a great coach. Tremendous credentials, passion. He’s an excellent teacher the last 10 years he’s headed up what’s called the leadership zone, which basically is presenting leadership seminars for corporate types for coaches. So he is a good teacher wanting to commit to the profession. That was the only question I have for Mike Singletary. Do you want to commit to the profession? The man has seven kids his wife has already picked a house out in Baltimore. That’s That’s commitment to the profession.

Nestor Aparicio  07:07

Well above and beyond all that I had Lynn Swann here earlier mean, we see these Hall of Famers, I mean, Coach, you look up on this wall and you see these guys. Aikman broadcaster name is broadcaster Phil Simms, broadcaster Bradshaw broadcaster, you know, I’m just going along the line all these guys, Len Dawson broadcaster, you’re going to be brought Steve Young’s over here he brought I mean, that’s the easiest jump and you’re gonna find that at this weekend that we’re stealing friggin money. I mean, you know, you’re doing the Superbowl thing. This is easier than coaching. I do what I do for a living I would not want to put in the hours that a Marvin Lewis did a Brian Bullock that, uh, Mike Smith, that all these people that have elevated their status, you have to love it, you have to absolutely love

Brian Billick  07:48

and it’s not so much the hours that you put in, because obviously, that’s obvious, but you get into this profession, you understand that? The thing is that what you recognize is that the sacrifices that you ask your family go through. That’s the biggest thing. When I say commit to a profession, commit to the coaching profession. A big part of that is as you’re willing to commit your family to the coaching profession and put them through the rigors that this job represents.

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Nestor Aparicio  08:15

John Elway created quite the store back.

Brian Billick  08:18

He tends to do there Yeah,

Nestor Aparicio  08:19

I mean, it’s Big John Elway, there you go. He’s he’s selling cars, right? You know, going into this thing and not needing the money. I mean, Mike Singletary, you you can’t pay him. You know, I mean to be a linebacker, Coach,

Brian Billick  08:31

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I mean passion for the game. It’s a passion for the game, that it’s not until you’re really away from the game that you fully appreciate how much you’ve missed it. And Mike does miss it. He’s got a lot Mike Singletary belongs back in the game. I’m thrilled that we can be the conduit for that. I think it’s going to be a very short period of time before Mike Singletary vaults himself to the top of these head coaching lists that the the ownerships look for, because he embodies that he’s got to build a little bit more of a resume on the coaching side. But you know, he has the knowledge, you know, he has the passion. He’s an extremely poised, powerful leader. He just needs to get a few of the coaching hurdles behind him some of the difficulties you have to deal with in coaching once he gets that experience, not so much even for himself. But then when he does become a head coach one day, he recognizes what his assistant coaches are gonna have to go through

Nestor Aparicio  09:20

with him and Ray and the relationship there. I mean, Ray’s had leaders in front of him from the beginning he Marvin was a role model Jack coming in. I mean, I think Ray changed a lot as a player with Jack just working with a linebacker, no disrespect to Maxie or anything, but working with a guy who’s been in the game recently now to see Mike Singletary in this situation with Ray, what is their relationship like coming in?

Brian Billick  09:40

Oh, it’s, it’s going to be magical. That’s the only word I can think of Ray is excited. Obviously, he knows what Mike Singletary represents. And he’s going to be able to talk those two are going to be able to talk to one another, in a way and at a level that that no one else can think about. And Eddie Hartwell, and what He’s going to have a resource for him a Ray Lewis and a mike Singletary. what this can do for Peter bowl where he’s helping. Absolutely. This this I’m excited about this hire. But as much as I am excited for the Baltimore Ravens I’m excited that Mike Singletary is back in the NFL.

Nestor Aparicio  10:15

They’re yelling at me you gotta leave. All right, so we know who’s really in charge. Burn and an AMI. Alright man, Coach, thanks for stopping by good luck to you on Sunday night. It’ll be fun to watch your language.

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Brian Billick  10:28

I’ll clean it up. My mother will give me a call. I’ll

Nestor Aparicio  10:30

see you home man. Have a good time. coach Brian Billick leaving us it is five o’clock you’re listening to wn st Towson, Baltimore.