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Former Raiders head coach Art Shell, shown in this 1990 photo, is the fifth candidate known to have interviewed for Oakland's coaching vacancy.
Former Raiders coach Art Shell interviewed with Oakland managing general partner Al Davis late last week regarding the team's coaching vacancy, a person in the front office confirmed Monday.
Shell is the fifth candidate known to have interviewed with the Raiders in person. Pittsburgh Steelers offensive coordinator Ken Whisenhunt probably will be the sixth, as he is expected in town today or Wednesday, a person close to Whisenhunt said.
Shell followed former Kansas City Chiefs offensive coordinator Al Saunders, former Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive-line coach Rod Marinelli, San Diego Chargers wide-receivers coach James Lofton and Raiders quarterbacks coach John Shoop as those receiving face-to-face interviews.
Saunders later accepted a job as the Washington Redskins' offensive coordinator. The Detroit Lions hired Marinelli as coach. Shoop is being courted by Buffalo to be the Bills' offensive coordinator.
Shell's entrance into the mix shines a whole new light on the process. He has yearned for another shot at a coaching job since the Raiders fired him after the 1994 season.
He interviewed with the Raiders, along with New England Patriots Coach Bill Belichick and Tampa Bay Coach Jon Gruden, in 1998 before Davis decided on Gruden.
Shell played for the Raiders in 1968-82 in a career that culminated with his induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1989.
Shell and Gruden are the only Raiders coaches with winning records since Tom Flores moved to the team's front office after the 1987 season. Shell's teams were 54-38 in regular-season games, a .587 win-loss percentage almost identical to the .594 mark that Gruden's teams (38-26) posted in 1998-2001.
``He had an excellent record with us,'' Davis said of Shell in January 2004, ``and I might have, as I've said many times, made a mistake by acting too soon. There were people behind the scenes who were hurting him. I didn't have the full story.''
Shell met with Davis at the team's headquarters in Alameda. Shell then flew to Detroit, the site of the Super Bowl, and discussed with other team officials the interest level, the person in the front office said.
Shell could not be reached for comment Monday because he was traveling to Florida for a league-related function. He's the NFL's senior vice president of football operations and development and works out of its New York headquarters.
The Raiders had to wait until after the Super Bowl on Sunday, per league rules, before they could contact Whisenhunt. He returned to Pittsburgh on Sunday night and spent Monday there, as well.
Source: mercurynews.com