It’s Black Monday in the NFL, and coaches and general managers are being fired all over the league already. The Oakland Raiders moved on from head coach Dennis Allen early on, and have been ready for Black Monday since week four of the season. They also could be prepping for a 2016 move to Los Angeles, depending on who you believe and what you read or listen to, so the Oakland job is one that could have perhaps some allure for prospective candidates.
The Raiders wanted so badly to be able to hire John Harbaugh, who is reportedly going to be introduced as Michigan Wolverines head coach on Tuesday, but that didn’t happen. With all that known at this point, some names have been thrown around for the next Raiders head coaching gig. They will certainly look to someone who has head coaching experience (you’d think) and among the names that have popped up include Jack Del Rio, the current Denver Broncos defensive coordinator.
Look for Jack Del Rio to emerge in OAK, ATL to contact Rex, SF to approach Jim Mora several teams request Adam Gase. M. Shanahan wants Chi
— Jason La Canfora (@JasonLaCanfora) December 29, 2014
Losing Del Rio to the Raiders wouldn’t be a surprise but it would still suck. The Broncos have already seen two of their in-house coordinators leave for head coaching gigs with division rivals since John Fox was hired (Mike McCoy – Chargers; Dennis Allen – Raiders).
Del Rio is the type of veteran coach the Raiders need, and having played his college ball at Southern Cal, Del Rio could see the fit as a return to a state where he has roots and especially with the potential move to Los Angeles in the not so distant future.
Unlike this time last year, the Raiders have building blocks, and they have money to spend in free agency. With Derek Carr seemingly as the QB of the future and Khalil Mack the defensive star in the making, the Raiders’ cupboard is not bare but it’s mighty close. Any coach who is taking on that project is doing just that.
In Adam Gase news, who knows where he will wind up. He has done well as the Broncos’ offensive coordinator the last two seasons and wisely turned down offers last year to compete for a Super Bowl this year. If Gase and the Broncos can come away with a Super Bowl victory, it will be a huge notch on his belt as a head coaching candidate. Teams may have to wait a while to interview Gase, but the opportunity is there for he and Del Rio to talk to prospective teams this week if the Broncos allow it, since they are on a bye week in the first week of the playoffs.
At any rate, the Broncos are expected to lose out on both Del Rio and Gase. Non-playoff teams will be eager to get started on offseason planning, but the Broncos currently have business to take care of. Expect Gase and Del Rio to act accordingly.