The linebacker was the leading tackler for the Vikings in three of his four seasons with the club (1992-95), and he earned the only All-Pro and Pro Bowl selections of his career in 1994. He also was encouraged to consider a coaching career by then-defensive coordinator Tony Dungy.

"Then when he got the job in Tampa (in 1996), he talked to me about coming down and joining him in some capacity," Del Rio recalled on Friday. "I said, 'Nah, I've got one more year or two in me.' "

Del Rio, then 33, signed a contract with the Miami Dolphins, but he was beaten out for a starting spot by a rookie named Zach Thomas.

Del Rio retired.

But another Super Bowl champion head coach offered Del Rio a job.

Mike Ditka hired Del Rio to be the strength and conditioning coach of the New Orleans Saints in 1997. Then, in 1999, Del Rio reunited with another former Vikings coaching mentor, Brian Billick, in Baltimore, where he helped the Ravens win Super Bowl XXXV.

In 2002, in Del Rio's lone season as a defensive coordinator, the Carolina Panthers ranked second overall in the league.

After just six seasons as a coach, Del Rio replaced Tom Coughlin as the head coach of the Jacksonville Jaguars.

"I haven't really stopped and paused to think about it a whole lot," Del Rio said of his rapid ascension. "I love what I do. I love being a part of the NFL. It's the highest level. The competition is fierce.

"I love the ups and downs."

Last season was an up, as the Jaguars lost to the New England Patriots in the divisional playoffs, and this season is currently a down, as injuries have ravaged a potential championship run.

But Del Rio refuses to make any excuses and insists his 4-6 team will "persevere."

"I think being able to stand up for the right things and plugging away is who I am," he said. "I pride myself on that.

"I believe in doing the right things and, over time, that you will win."

After a 21-19 loss to the previously winless Cincinnati Bengals, Del Rio reportedly banished middle linebacker Mike Peterson for "insubordination," reassigned the locker of at least six players and banned music, card games and dominoes from the locker room.

"You treat guys like men," Jaguars quarterback David Garrard said. "But when they abuse it a little bit, you have to do something about it. I think it was something that was kind of eating at him a little bit, and he wanted to do something.

"Of course, losing only makes the situation a little worse," Garrard said. "But he's still a great coach, and I still love playing for him."

A fiery and fearless player ("I heard he was just a beast," receiver Troy Williamson said), Del Rio has applied the same approach to his current job. In August 2007, he demoted and released starting quarterback Byron Leftwich, and he sported a suit on the sidelines a few times during the 2006 season.

"I think if you're in a position like this, you can't be afraid to make the call, if you think it's the right thing for your Football team," Del Rio said. "I never make it a popularity contest. I'm never trying to take a poll to see if it's going to be well-received.

"If I'm convicted about something - I see something, I feel something and it's my belief - I have to follow through on it," he said. "I think I owe that to everyone in this organization."

But Football doesn't make Jack dull; he enjoys hanging out with friends and playing golf. In fact, former Vikings teammate Mike Tice said Del Rio is a lot like himself.

"I really like working for him," said Tice, the Jaguars' assistant head coach. "He lets you be yourself, and he likes to have fun, like I do."

Williamson said he appreciates the "family-first" mentality Del Rio has instilled in the franchise.

"We treat everyone like family around here," Williamson said. "You do stuff outside of Football, like to other players' houses.

"We got each others' back."

Despite the subpar record, Del Rio likely isn't going anywhere any time soon; he received a four-year extension from owner Wayne Weaver in April that reportedly includes more than $20 million in new guaranteed money.

"It's an awesome privilege to have an opportunity like this, to lead this Football team," Del Rio said. "It's been great. But, obviously, central to staying in this kind of position is to have success and win."