Raiders thank Del Rio with new contract

The Raiders rewarded coach Jack Del Rio with a new four-year contract, replacing the original four-year deal he received when he took the job in January 2015.

Before Del Rio arrived in 2015, the Raiders had posted the worst record in the NFL during the previous 13 years, with a revolving door of coaches and quarterbacks. Del Rio led the Raiders to a 7-9 record in his first season before taking a big step forward this past year with a 12-4 mark and the team’s first playoff berth in 14 years.

Del Rio was previously coach in Jacksonville, where he had a 68-71 record in nine seasons. His 171 career games are second-most in NFL history for a coach who has never finished in first place.

■ Ryan Fitzpatrick’s contract with the Jets has been voided, as expected, making the veteran quarterback a free agent. Fitzpatrick, 34, could re-sign with the club but is considered likely to move on.

■ 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan hired the first six members of his new staff: Jon Embree (assistant head coach/tight ends), Bobby Turner (running backs), Rich Scangarello (quarterbacks), Ray Wright (head strength and conditioning), T.C. McCartney (offensive assistant) and Nick Kray (administrative assistant to the head coach).

■ In biting comments last week, the executive director of the NFL Players Association promised the union would try to dissuade potential free agents from signing with the Bears based on the team’s support of a pending bill in the Illinois General Assembly involving workers’ compensation reform.

Bears general counsel Cliff Stein said DeMaurice Smith’s warning was an exaggerated threat and he was confident the legislation would have no impact on the Bears’ freeagency efforts. Free agency begins March 9.