Former NFL Linebacker Jim Haslett to Join Raiders as an Assistant Coach

After losing three assistant coaches in the last two months, Raider Coach Art Shell hired former World League defensive coordinator Jim Haslett as linebackers coach Wednesday.

Haslett, who played linebacker in the NFL for nine seasons with the Buffalo Bills and the New York Jets, will replace Ronnie Jones, who is now with the Houston Oilers.

Haslett, 36, retired in 1987 and coached linebackers for the University of Buffalo for three seasons. In 1991-92, he was defensive coordinator for the Sacramento Surge in the World League, who won the league championship in 1992.

“Through the interview process, Jim showed that he is a very capable coach,” Shell said. “He is a young linebacker coach who played in the league before and he did a good job in coaching at Sacramento, which won the World League title.”

Haslett was drafted in the second round in 1979 by Buffalo out of Indiana University of Pennsylvania. He was named NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year in 1979 and was named to the Pro Bowl after the 1980 and 1981 seasons.

Shell still has to replace defensive line coach Earl Leggett, now an assistant with the New York Giants, and offensive line coach Kim Helton, who joined the Miami Dolphins’ staff.