Before accepting this position

As a fan, you don't hear this too often, but the will be hoping for their once fired head coach to pick up right where he left off. After more than five enduring weeks in search of a head coach, Al Davis decided to right a wrong. Art Shell, who was fired in 1994 after finishing 9-7, will become the next coach of the .With the hiring of Art Shell, all head coaching vacancies in the NFL have now been filled. Before accepting this position, Shell worked as the senior vice president of football relations and development for the NFL. Next season he will drop that title to coach the , looking to turn around a franchise that has compiled a 13-35 record throughout the last three years. Shell, however, has not coached in the NFL since resigning as the offensive line coach of the Atlanta Falcons subsequent to the 2000 season. Art Shell is known for becoming the first African-American head coach in modern NFL history, and will now become the seventh one coaching in the 2006 season. The only other African-American head coach to make a move this offseason was Herm Edwards, who was traded from the New York Jets to the Kansas City Chiefs.Shell, 59, had a 54-38 regular-season record and lead the to three playoff appearances. In the 1990 season, he led the team to the AFC championship game, where the Buffalo Bills routed the then Los Angeles Raiders, 51-3. Although this 1990 season was his best as a head coach, Shell was very consistent in making the Raiders contenders year in and year out:-In 1989, he took over for Mike Shanahan, who was fired after starting 1-3, and led the team to a 9-7 finish.-In 1990, he led the team to the AFC championship game, where they eventually fell to the AFC Super Bowl representative Buffalo Bills.-In the 1991 season, the Raiders went 9-7 under Shell, but lost to the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC Wild Card game 6-10.-1992 became Shell's worst season as a head coach, going 7-9. Nevertheless, that same career-low record would have been at least two games better than any season the Raiders have registered for the past three years.-In 1993, Shell rebounded to lead the Raiders back to the playoffs. Going 10-6 during the regular season, the Raiders lost in the divisional playoffs to the Buffalo Bills 29-23. However, on the road to get there, the Raiders walked over divisional rival Denver Broncos, 42-24.-1994, Shell's last year as head coach, was yet another winning season. Under his guidance, the Raiders went 9-7 and finished second in the Seahawk-included AFC West division.Shell will now get his opportunity to pick up where he left off-with a winning record. Most importantly, the hiring of Shell may reveal something about owner Al Davis that has seemed to elude him since the 1994 season: commitment. The infamous "Commitment to Excellence" slogan of the organization has seen little commitment at the head coaching position. In 1995, Mike White took over for Shell, coached 8-8 and 7-9 seasons, and was soon after fired by Davis. In 1997, Joe Bugel became head coach and went 4-12 with Jeff George at the helm; he was fired directly after the season. Next up came Jon Gruden, who may have actually had to time to build a home in Oakland. Gruden coached for four years, but was dealt away to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers after a 10-6 season in 2001. In 2002, Bill Callahan took over and led the Raiders to the Super Bowl. Ironically, they met and lost to Jon Gruden, 48-21, in their Super Bowl meeting. After being given one additional season, Callahan was canned. Lastly, Norv Turner took over in 2010 pro bowl Vikings 4 Brett Favre jersey
2004, won nine games in two seasons, and was let go of early into 2006.Hiring within the ' family may reveal more commitment and obligation from Al Davis. Because he repeatedly admitted his oversight in the firing of Shell in 1994, Davis may now become more conscious of his decision making concerning the head coaching position. And as the last three seasons have proved, quick changes at that position will hurt more than help the entire organization.But in all actuality, owner Al Davis just wants to "win baby." And as the statistics show, Art Shell was a winner. No question.