Shortly after signing his contract as the new general manager of the Raiders, Reggie McKenzie fired Hue Jackson as the team's head coach. "There comes a time when change is necessary," McKenzie said. "For the Raiders the time is now. The Raiders organization, with respect and deference for all its tradition and history, is about to embark on a new era." Jackson was fired after going 8-8 in his first season as head coach. McKenzie wanted to bring in his "own guy" to rebuild the organization.