On the heels of leading the Raiders back to the playoffs for the first time in 14 years, Jack Del Rio will begin extension talks with the team this week, Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports reports (on Twitter).
Del Rio is signed through the 2018 season already, but Mark Davis is obviously pleased with the job the coach has done in his two years at the helm. Oakland improved by three wins from 2014 to ’15 and the 12-win 2016 campaign represented a five-victory improvement for a franchise that hadn’t fielded a winning team since 2002. The 53-year-old Del Rio won 12 games for the second time in his career, and although he has yet to win a division title in 10 years as a HC, the Raiders came close to accomplishing that this season after failing to sniff such a perch in years.
This could be viewed as a formality, but the Raiders have been anything but stable in their recent past, moving on from coaches quickly as the likes of Tom Cable and Hue Jackson discovered. But the organization resides on much firmer ground under Del Rio, whom Reggie McKenzie hired from the Broncos. The McKenzie-led Raiders are moving on a steadier course than they did during Al Davis’ final years, so this latest partnership looks like it will be lasting long-term.
Del Rio now also could be faced with shepherding a Raiders move to Las Vegas, but the Raiders managed to thrive with that looming over their 2016 season, giving Del Rio a chance at coach of the year acclaim.
Del Rio has brought pride back for the Silver and Black. Stay the course and keep making those improvements