Oakland Raiders hire Jack Del Rio as new coach

It appears that the Oakland Raiders are hoping Jack Del Rio will be the man who can finally break the team out of its decade-long slump.

The Raiders reportedly hired Del Rio as their new coach Wednesday, bringing on the former Denver defensive coordinator who was successful in helping craft the Broncos into one of the NFL’s stingiest teams.

According to NFL.com, Del Rio has agreed to a four-year deal with the team. He reportedly interviewed twice for the Raiders’ coaching job and met with team owner Mark Davis during the Broncos’ playoff bye week.

ESPN first reported Del Rio’s hiring.

The move makes sense for Del Rio since his days with the Broncos probably were over. Denver’s loss to the Indianapolis Colts in the AFC divisional playoffs on Sunday prompted the team and Coach John Fox to part ways. According to a report, the Broncos aren’t planning to bring back anyone from Fox’s coaching staff.

Prior to joining the Broncos, Del Rio served as head coach of the Jacksonville Jaguars from 2003-2011, amassing a 68-71 regular-season record and a 1-2 playoff mark. In parts of nine seasons with Jacksonville, he made the playoffs twice. He was fired 11 games into the 2011 season. He won a Super Bowl ring with the Baltimore Ravens in 2001 as their linebackers coach.

Del Rio, 51, was an All-American linebacker at USC before embarking on a 11-year NFL career that included stints with the New Orleans Saints, Kansas City Chiefs, Dallas Cowboys and Minnesota Vikings.

Del Rio is the eighth coach in 11 seasons for the Raiders, who fired Coach Dennis Allen in September after an 0-4 start. The team chose not to bring back interim coach Tony Sparano.

The Raiders’ last trek to the postseason was at the end of the 2002 season, when league MVP Rich Gannon and coach Bill Callahan led the team to the Super Bowl.