Jack Del Rio Next Raiders Head Coach

Raiders owner Mark Davis reportedly very involved in decision to bring in Del Rio

Defensive tackle Terrance Knighton played for Jack Del Rio when Del Rio was head coach in Jacksonville. Then he moved on to Denver when Del Rio was defensive coordinator for the Broncos.

When he heard reports Wednesday afternoon that the Raiders had offered their head coaching position to Del Rio, he gave his coach a shoutout.

“If the report is true, the Raiders are getting a great damn coach,” he tweeted. “He will revive that locker room and organization.”

The Raiders haven’t yet made a formal announcement of the deal, but sources have told multiple reporters locally and nationally that Del Rio, an East Bay native, is the hire. Del Rio has been defensive coordinator in Denver for the past three seasons, helping the Broncos win three straight AFC West titles. 

Whether Del Rio will turn out to be the guy to finally lead the Raiders out of the NFL basement of course won’t be known for a while. The team hasn't had a winning season since 2002 and Del Rio had mixed results in his nine seasons as head coach of the Jaguars, going 68-71 but reaching the playoffs twice.

But as Bill Williamson of ESPN.com wrote Wednesday, Raiders owner Mark Davis is personally involved in this hire. After letting GM Reggie McKenzie bring in Dennis Allen after McKenzie fired Hue Jackson after an 8-8 season in 2011, the Raiders have gone 11-37. Now Davis has gotten involved in the process with McKenzie, and Del Rio is the man Davis has chosen.

Wrote Williamson: “Make no mistake, this is Davis’ call.”

The Raiders have flopped around for too long. Davis has seen the team go through eight head coaches since 2003. Now Del Rio is reported to be getting a four-year deal.

Ian Rapoport of NFL.com reported late Wednesday on Twitter that the Raiders officially have hired Del Rio. “Deal was just finalized,” he reported.

According to several reports, Raiders leadership was divided between Del Rio and interim head coach Tony Sparano, with McKenzie in Sparano’s corner. Davis and former head coach, broadcaster and Davis adviser John Madden liked Del Rio.

Tweeted Rapoport: “Madden’s role in Raiders’ decision to hire Del Rio was big, even bigger than GM Reggie McKenzie. Madden ultimately decided against Sparano.”

If that’s the case, this certainly is a turning point in the leadership role of Davis for the Raiders franchise.

Davis has the guy he wants. Now everyone who bleeds silver and black will soon find out if Del Rio can turn this franchise around after so many horrible seasons.

“(If) the Del Rio hire works, Raiders fans can point to Davis as being a reason why,” wrote ESPN’s Williamson.

Still, there are plenty of skeptics. Two trips to the playoffs in nine seasons with the Jags isn’t exactly a reason for cartwheels. As Jason McInyre of TheBigLead.com tweeted Wednesday afternoon: “Jack Del Rio: Latin for ‘safe, average hire.’ ”

Meanwhile, Knighton could be headed to Oakland to play for Del Rio again. While Knighton has said repeatedly he wanted to stay in Denver, he recently told The Associated Press, "I want to be wherever Jack is. I'll just leave it at that.''

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