Luke Del Rio is the most interesting coach in college football.
And today’s conversation at Y-Option, fueled by our founding sponsor, 76® - keeping you on the GO GO GO so you never miss a beat, is one that will inspire, enlighten and may get you on the next flight to Paris.
Every quarterback has a story. Few are as layered and compelling as Luke Del Rio’s. I’ve known Luke since he was 16 years old and watching his path as a signal caller, friend and coach has been fascinating.
Luke is currently on Jedd Fisch’s staff at the University of Washington and his last year in football may one day be a part of a best-selling book. Luke grew up in NFL locker rooms, learning from his father, Jack, a long time NFL head coach. As a player, Luke would spin the ball in Tuscaloosa, Corvallis and complete his playing career as the starting quarterback at Florida.
This past summer his journey took an unexpected turn, where he was the offensive coordinator for the Paris Musketeers in the European League of Football.
We re-traced that journey on his final night in Paris before he and his family flew back to Seattle to begin the season with the Huskies.
We talk about what it means to run your own room for the first time, how the seat feels different when you’re the play-caller, and what it was like to share the sideline with his father. We dive into the tension and beauty of that father-son dynamic, the lessons learned from coaching in a foreign land, and the emotional goodbye that brought Luke to tears after their final game.
Yet what resonated most was the humanity: the afterglow of nights in Paris spent with family, teammates, and friends–the reminder that football is the vessel, but the people are the payoff.
Luke Del Rio is back in the States now, primed for what could be a special season at UW, but his story is proof of what Chris Petersen once told me: your path will never go as you envision it…and that’s often the point.
Off to State College and to those of you who have sent over notes about the piece on George Raveling, thank you.
Much love and stay steady,
Yogi
