Las Vegas Raiders

Raiders coach Jack Del Rio's contract has been 'torn up' ... and replaced by a new one

Published Feb. 11, 2017 10:48 a.m. ET

Andre Vergara

Oakland Raiders coach Jack Del Rio's contract has been "torn up," owner Mark Davis announced Friday, and replaced by a new four-year deal.

Del Rio was rewarded after leading the Raiders back to the playoffs for the first time in 14 years. Oakland went 12-4 only to see its season derailed when quarterback Derek Carr suffered a broken leg in the second to last game of the regular season, leading to a wild-card playoff loss to Houston.

"We are excited to continue building on the strong foundation that has been established and this is a significant step in achieving that goal," Davis said in a statement.

Del Rio took over two years ago after going 68-71 in nine seasons in Jacksonville. He was Oakland's ninth head coach since the start of the 2003 season; the Raiders had the NFL's worst record in that span, failing to produce a single winning season. He went 7-9 in his first year before breaking through last season behind the play of Carr and Defensive Player of the Year Khalil Mack. Del Rio set the tone for the season when he went for a 2-point conversion instead of opting for a game-tying extra point late in the opener at New Orleans. The Raiders converted and won, 35-34.

https://twitter.com/derekcarrqb/status/830224758394335232

While Del Rio's new deal gives the Raiders more stability, the big question is will they remain in Oakland? Two key financiers in the team's proposed move to Las Vegas have backed out of the deal, and while the Raiders told the Las Vegas Stadium Authority this week that they're in discussions with "multiple" financial institutions and that money won't be an issue in getting a new stadium built, they revealed no other details.

In addition to financing, the Raiders also would need the approval of three-fourths of the NFL's owners; a vote on Vegas is expected at the end of March.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.