Richard Smith spent the past ten years with the Raiders, working his way up the ranks under multiple head coaching changes. Today he took another step up, only this time it also involved switching teams.
Smith was named the defensive line coach for the Bears Tuesday, joining new head coach Matt Eberflus’s staff.
Smith joined the Raiders in 2012 as a defensive assistant on Dennis Allen’s staff. He stayed on as a defensive quality control coach on Jack Del Rio’s staff and spent a season as outside linebackers coach (2017).
When Jon Gruden came in, Smith was retained as a defensive quality control coach before being elevated to assistant defensive line coach under Rod Marinelli the past two seasons.
Now Smith gets his shot at being a defensive line coach along with a reunion with former Raiders defensive end, Khalil Mack.
The Raiders website no longer lists Rod Marinelli, which suggests new defensive coordinator Patrick Graham will be hiring an entirely new defensive staff.