Earlier this week, news broke that the Denver Broncos were strongly considering former Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Jack Del Rio for their defensive coordinator opening. Now it appears official:

Denver hired Jack Del Rio as its defensive coordinator.

—
Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) January 28, 2012

Del Rio replaces Dennis Allen, who left the Broncos to become the head coach of the Oakland Raiders. He’s the fifth defensive coordinator in Denver in five years. Del Rio and Broncos head coach John Fox have worked together before, as DC and head coach for the 2002 Carolina Panthers.

Del Rio spent eight seasons and part of a ninth as head coach in Jacksonville, compiling a career record of 68-71. He was fired after a 3-8 start to the Jaguars’ 2011 season.

The Denver Broncos are strongly considering former Jacksonville Jaguars coach Jack Del Rio as possible candidate for the defensive coordinator position according to NFL.com.

Del Rio would potentially replace Dennis Allen, who recently left Denver to become the Oakland Raiders next head coach. Allen’s departure has left the Broncos defensive coordinator position vacant for the fifth consecutive year.

In 2002, Del Rio served as defensive coordinator under current Broncos head coach John Fox when both were with the Carolina Panthers.   That year, the Panthers went 7-9, a vast improvement from their 1-15 2001 season.

Del Rio was hired as the Jaguars head coach in 2003.  In 2011 he was fired by Jacksonville after posting a 3-8 record to begin the season.

Update 11:23 - Sports Illustrated’s Peter King is reporting that Pakistani entrepreneur Shahid Khan will buy the Jaguars. He is expected to confirm today that he will keep the team in Jacksonville. According to King, Khan attempted to purchase the St. Louis Rams but lost out to Stan Kroenke in 2010.

Original: 11:18 - Adam Schefter of ESPN.com is reporting that Jacksonville Jaguars employees were informed today that the team is being sold. The team is expected to remain in Jacksonville.

Over the past several months there have been reports that current owner Wayne Weaver would be willing to sell the team. Some had speculated that this meant the franchise could move to Los Angeles in the near future, however, ESPN is reporting that the team will not relocate under the new ownership.

The report of an ownership change continues a busy day for the Jaguars who fired their head coach of nine seasons, Jack Del Rio, this morning, and who have also reportedly extended general manager Gene Smith for another three years.

Defensive coordinator Mel Tucker will reportedly take over as interim head coach for the Jacksonville Jaguars after the recent firing of Jack Del Rio, according to The Florida Times Union.

Del Rio was fired this morning, according to reports from ESPN, after leading the Jaguars to a 3-8 start to the 2011 season.  Team owner Wayne Weaver had given Del Rio a clear goal this season of making the playoffs in 2011 in order to keep his job.

Tucker has previously served as both a defensive backs coach and a defensive coordinator for the Cleveland Browns, this will be his first time serving in the NFL as a head coach. The 39-year-old has been with the Jaguars since 2009.

The Jacksonville Jaguars have fired head coach Jack Del Rio, sources have told ESPN.com. The team is expected to announce their decision today at noon.

Jacksonville has gone just 3-8 through 11 games this season. Team owner Wayne Weaver gave Del Rio a clear goal of making the playoffs in 2011 in order to keep his job. The Jaguars had finished a promising 8-8 in 2010, however with the team earning their eighth loss of the season this weekend, it is not mathematically possible for them to improve upon last year’s finish.

“If we’re not in the playoffs, it’s pretty apparent we’ll have a different coach,” Weaver said in January.

Del Rio, 48, had posted a 68-70 record as Jacksonville’s head coach since joining the team in 2003. In nine seasons he led the Jaguars to a winning record just three times, and had just two playoff appearances. The team’s best season under Del Rio came in 2005 when they finished 12-4.

In 2002 Del Rio served as the defensive coordinator for the Carolina Panthers. He has also been an assistant coach for the Baltimore Ravens and the New Orleans Saints.