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Home , Bert Bell, Defensive coordinator, Greasy Neale, Jack Del Rio, Reds Bagnell

Jan. 19, 2017 For Immediate Release

Jack Del Rio Wins Professional Coach of the Year Award

ALAMEDA, Calif. – Oakland Raiders has been selected as the winner of the 28th annual Greasy Neale Professional Coach of the Year Award, Maxwell Football Club President announced Thursday.

Del Rio, who led the Raiders to a 12-4 regular season record and the club’s first postseason appearance since 2002, becomes just the second Raider coach to receive the Greasy Neale Award, following in 1990.

In 2016, the Raiders tied for the NFL lead with a plus-16 turnover differential, while ranking sixth in the league in total offense (373.3 yards per game) and sixth in rushing (120.1 yards per game). QB led the Raiders to seven fourth-quarter comebacks on the year, a total that ranks second in NFL annals, and seven Raiders were selected to the . DE Khalil Mack and G Kelechi Osemele were named first-team All-Pro by both the Associated Press and the Pro Football Writers of America and, earlier this week, Mack was named PFWA Defensive Player of the Year.

Del Rio came to the Silver and Black in 2015 and posted a 7-9 record, more than doubling the team’s win total from the previous season. Del Rio is 19-13 in two seasons at the helm, marking the most wins over a two-year stretch for the Raiders since the early 2000s, when Oakland claimed three straight AFC West titles from 2000-02. The Raiders’ 12 wins in 2016 are the most for the Silver and Black since the 2000 campaign.

Now entering his 32nd NFL season as a player and coach, Del Rio joined the Raiders after three seasons as with the . He was head coach of the for nine seasons from 2003-11 after serving as defensive coordinator for the in 2002 and coach for the from 1999-2001. He started his coaching career with the (1997-98). Del Rio played 11 seasons as a with the Saints (1985-86), (1987-88), (1989-91) and (1992-95).

The Maxwell Football Club also named ’ QB Matt Ryan as the winner of the 58th Professional Player of the Year Award. Del Rio and Ryan will be honored Friday, March 10, 2017 at the 80th Maxwell Club National Awards Gala, which will be held at the Tropicana Casino Resort in Atlantic City, NJ. Also receiving awards at this event will be; – Louisville (), Jonathan Allen - Alabama ( Award), – Alabama (George Munger College Coach of the Year Award), James Conner – University of Pittsburgh (The Thomas Brookshier Spirit Award), Trace McSorley – Penn State ( Tri-State Player of the Year Award), James Franklin – Penn State (Tri-State Coach of the Year) and – South Carolina/Florida/Duke (The Francis Reds Bagnell Award for Contributions to Football). Other MFC Awards at the high school, college and professional levels will also be announced in early January.