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Oakland Raiders extend Jack Del Rio after successful 2016 season

By Chris Barnewall

Jan 1, 2017; Denver, CO, USA; Oakland Raiders head coach Jack Del Rio before the game against the Denver Broncos at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 1, 2017; Denver, CO, USA; Oakland Raiders head coach Jack Del Rio before the game against the Denver Broncos at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Oakland Raiders appear to be very impressed with the work Jack Del Rio did last season

The Oakland Raiders have been one of the laughingstocks of the NFL for years, but that finally changed after their most successful season in over a decade. Led by Derek Carr, the Raiders tore apart the NFL on the way to a 12-4 record and first playoff appearance since 2002. They likely would have earned a first-round bye and finished with an even better record, had Carr not broken his fibula late in the season.

After successful seasons like this players get paid and coaches get rewarded. The Raiders are no different as they have given Jack Del Rio a brand new four-year contract following their huge turnaround this season. They announced the extension in a public statement today.

"“The Raiders have torn up Jack Del Rio’s original contract and rewarded him with a new four-year deal. We are excited to continue building on the strong foundation that has been established and this is a significant step in achieving that goal.” – Raiders Owner Mark Davis"

The Raiders are clearly very excited for their future as a franchise even with the questions surrounding how much longer they’ll be in Oakland. They have a young quarterback that might be the best from his draft class, a young wide receiver corps, and a solid pair of running backs. If it hadn’t been for the Carr injury they very likely would have been playing the New England Patriots in the AFC Championship Game rather than the Pittsburgh Steelers.

It’s always great to see coaches rewarded for success no matter the circumstances. That said, Del Rio receiving a new contract this early in his tenure is a little strange considering what we know about his past. His tenure as the Jacksonville Jaguars head coach had successes, but he could never help them reach new heights as a franchise. His time in Denver was fine, but nothing about Del Rio screamed that he was a can’t-miss coordinator. It’s also concerning that when Carr went down the Raiders completely collapsed offensively. Losing your starting quarterback isn’t great, but the Raiders fell well beyond the expected drop. It’s okay to be excited about their future, but how much of that future involves Del Rio is still questionable despite the new contract.

Time will tell on that aspect.

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