30 best NFL head coaching hires of the 21st century

It’s rather unfortunate that Jack Del Rio’s time with the Oakland Raiders was so short-lived. Personally, I thought his impact on the club was positive and instantaneous. Unfortunately, owner Mark Davis decided after only three seasons that his services were no longer needed.

Regardless, Del Rio’s hiring was a great one.

The second he walked in the door, the Raiders played a different mindset, mentality and swagger. His willingness to gamble on game day gave his team more confidence, leading them to their first playoff appearance in 14 seasons. Had it not been for an untimely injury to Derek Carr, there’s no guessing how far Oakland could have gone that year.

Sure, you could probably make a case that Del Rio benefited from the work Reggie McKenzie had done for the few years prior to his arrival. While that’s all good and dandy, it discounts that it was Del Rio’s job to make the pieces fit. That’s exactly what he did, acting as Oakland’s puzzle master that helped them taste the postseason after an extended drought.

The biggest mistake was deciding to let him go after only three tries. Now, Raiders fans will be forced to watch Jon Gruden trade away any decent talent as part of his plan to reshape the roster to his liking. Good luck with that, Mark.