Ranking 32 NFL head coaches based on presidential potential

11. Jack Del Rio – Oakland Raiders

Jack Del Rio is an interesting case study as it concerns public perception versus reality. The perceived picture of Del Rio as head coach goes back to his time with the Jacksonville Jaguars. Indeed, as his final year in Jacksonville was in 2011 (when he was fired mid-season), Del Rio is often credited with being part of the Jaguars’ demise. What people conveniently ignore, however, is that Del Rio was responsible for some of the most successful years in the franchise’s history.

Now, with Del Rio helming the Oakland Raiders, people are again starting to realize just how gifted Del Rio is — not just as a defensive mind, but a leader as well, who took an exceptionally young Raiders team all the way to 7-9 in his first season. Now, with the help of a fantastic offseason by the front office, Del Rio has them looking like a possible dark horse in the AFC.

None of this is to say Del Rio is the second-coming of Vince Lombardi, or that he should be put into the Oval Office right now. What Del Rio is, though, is an experienced and smart coach who’s sometimes gotten a bad rap. If what you’re looking for in a president is a combination of toughness, intelligence, and a cool-calm demeanor, you could do a lot worse than Oakland’s newly energized field general.

Next: No. 10 Gus Bradley