Rod Woodson Joins Hue Jackson’s Oakland Raiders Coaching Staff

Woodson on returning to Oakland:

The Raiders release calls him a “Raider Legend,” but seriously guys, he only played there for two years. Still, this is an impressive hire for Jackson, as plenty of young defensive backs around the league grew up watching Woodson play.

Tom Cable had no chance of being retained as the Oakland Raiders head coach even if they made the playoffs. It was found out that Raiders owner Al Davis withheld $120,000 of Cable’s salary for causing legal harm to the Raiders organization. All of this is coming from Al Davis himself, of course, who said Cable lied to him about the situation between Cable and his former girlfriend, Marie Lutz, who caught Davis off guard by suing the Raiders.

Cable had been previously accused of physical abuse against Lutz and coupled with Cable’s situation where he allegedly punched assistant coach Randy Hanson, Al Davis just wanted to make sure that there were no other past issues that the Raiders had to worry about.

Cable landed on his feet quickly after being fired as Raiders coach, with Hue Jackson taking over in Oakland. Cable and Pete Carroll have never worked together that I can uncover, though both are native Californians who have tended to gravitate towards West Coast coaching jobs. Cable had several stints as an offensive line coach before taking over the Raiders and played offensive line in college.

Many Raiders fans and even a few players were upset with the team’s decision to cut Cable loose. The assistant head coaching portion of his new job hasn’t been explicitly defined, but his good rapport with players will likely supplement Carroll’s strong reputation in that area.

The Oakland Raiders announced on Monday night the promotion of Hue Jackson from offensive coordinator to head coach. The move was widely expected to happen and it now completes the NFL’s head coach hiring cycle. Jackson is the final head coach to be hired this year.

Raiders owner Al Davis has named six head coaches since 2003 and often he has been the last NFL team to name a new head coach. Davis is scheduled to conduct a press conference Tuesday afternoon announcing the move but offered up a few words on Jackson’s new role in the Raiders press release issued on Monday night.

That’s a pretty weird thing to say about a football coach, but Davis is a pretty weird guy, in case you’re not aware. This marks another report about the Raiders that Adam Schefter has gotten correct, likely to Davis’ dismay.

Jackson is the team’s sixth head coach since Jon Gruden’s 2001 exit, and looking at the history of Raiders coaches is always good for a chuckle because it reminds you that Lane Kiffin once coached here.

For more Raiders, check Silver And Black Pride.

The Oakland Raiders on Tuesday night announced head coach Tom Cable has been fired. The move doesn’t come as a total surprise since multiple reports emerged this week that Cable wouldn’t be returning to the team. The Raiders had until January 18 to decide if they would pick up the two-year option on Cable’s contract. Apparently they won’t do that.

Though the move may not be a total surprise, it’s not sitting well with all the players. Punter Shane Lechler described the move as a “huge setback” suggesting free agents such as Michael Bush and/or Robert Gallery will now not want to return.

The Oakland Raiders reportedly stayed within the organization to find a replacement for head coach Tom Cable. Shortly after word leaked that Cable wouldn’t have the option on his contract picked up, the San Francisco Chronicle is reporting offensive coordinator Hue Jackson will be promoted to head coach. Jackson has seen interest in his services pick up recently, with the San Francisco 49ers asking for, and receiving, permission to speak to him about their vacant head coaching position.

Silver and Black, the San Francisco Chronicle’s Raiders blog, had the details of Cable’s departure and the hiring of Jackson.

ESPN’s Adam Schefter broke the news on Twitter Tuesday evening.

Cable compiled a 17-27 record in his three years at the helm in Oakland. In 2009, he under fire for workplace misconduct after an alleged incident involving an assistant coach. Cable was accused of punching assistant coach Randy Hanson in the face, fracturing his fracturing his jaw. No charges were filed after the incident.