ALAMEDA, Calif. -- The Oakland Raiders informed coach Tom Cable on Tuesday that they will not bring him back as coach next season even though he led them to their best record in eight years this season.

The Raiders announced their decision not to exercise a two-year, $5 million option on Cable's contract for 2011 and '12, two days after wrapping up an 8-8 season that gave Oakland its first non-losing record since winning the 2002 AFC championship.

"Coach Cable was informed the club would not be exercising its option for the 2011 season, and that he's free to seek employment elsewhere," his agent, Don Yee, said in an e-mail to The Associated Press. "Teams already have shown interest in Tom."

Punter Shane Lechler ripped the move in comments to Bay Area media Tuesday, saying it was a "huge setback" for the Raiders.

"It's hard to understand how or why the decision was made when it seemed it was in the best interest of players and we finally felt like we were headed in the right way, and the owner goes and pulls the [plug]," Lechler said, according to the Oakland Tribune.

The Raiders now begin their search for their sixth coach since Jon Gruden left for Tampa Bay following the 2001 season. Cable lasted longer than any of the previous five, with a 17-27 record since being promoted from offensive line coach to interim head coach early in the 2008 season after Lane Kiffin was fired.

Cable had wide support from his players, who credited him with helping make the team a contender in the AFC West this season after a run of seven straight years of at least 11 losses.

But that was not enough to persuade owner Al Davis to bring him back for a third full season. The Raiders could have waited two weeks to make this decision but acted quickly.

The move comes the same day the Raiders granted the San Francisco 49ers permission to interview offensive coordinator Hue Jackson for their vacant head coaching job. Jackson will interview with the 49ers on Wednesday, a league source told ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter.