Raiders Expected To Hire Jack Del Rio As Head Coach

Update:

Mike Garafolo reports that Raiders interim HC Tony Sparano has been telling people that he won’t be back with the team next year.

With Jack Del Rio expected to be hired as their next head coach, he will be bringing in a new offensive staff.

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ESPN’s Chris Mortensen reports that the Oakland Raiders are expected to hire Broncos DC Jack Del Rio as their next head coach.

• According to Mortensen, an agreement could be in place as earlier as today.
• Ian Rapoport reports that the Raiders decided late last night that they won’t retain Tony Sparano as their head coach.
• Rapoport adds that Del Rio had the support of John Madden and owner Mark Davis.
• Mike Garafolo reports that negotiations between the Raiders and Del Rio are expected to commence today.

Last night, Dianna Marie Russini reported that the Raiders head coaching job was a “shootout” between GM Reggie McKenzie and Davis.

According to Russini’s sources, McKenzie’s preference was to keep interim HC Tony Sparano in place for the 2015 season while David preferred to hire Del Rio.

Assuming this is accurate, you had to think Davis would eventually come out on top, seeing as he owns the team.

Steve Corkran reported that if the Raiders were to hire Del Rio as their next head coach, his top choice for defensive coordinator would be former Falcons HC Mike Smith.

Corkran points out that Smith was Del Rio’s defensive coordinator during the first five seasons he was head coach of the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Del Rio was the only candidate to get a follow up interview with the Raiders, which was a pretty clear indication that he was going to be the guy.

We’ll have more regarding the Raiders and Del Rio as the news is available.