Even before the Oakland Raiders fired head coach Jack Del Rio, rumors abounded surrounding the possible return of a former Raiders head coach, Jon Gruden.
As Jon Gruden called around to round up assistants, one name kept coming up as a QB coach: Rich Gannon. He has the #Raiders game today ???
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) December 31, 2017
Jon Gruden coached the Raiders from 1998-2001 to the tune of a 38-26 record overall. Additionally, Gruden was 2-2 in the playoffs during his tenure in Oakland. Upon his departure, Gruden was part of the rare trade involving a head coach. Not only that, it was a trade with major assets exchanging hands. To acquire his services, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers gave up two first-round draft picks (in 2002 and 2003) along with two second-round picks (in 2002 and 2004), and $8 million.
In January of 2003, Gruden’s Buccaneers took on his former team in Super Bowl XXXVII. The Bucs, under Gruden, won the championship that year, defeating the Raiders 48-21.
For his career, Jon Gruden has a lifetime record of 95-81 between Tampa Bay and Oakland.
To further raise the stakes, ESPN reported that the Raiders – this time around – are prepared to offer Gruden a stake in ownership as a reward for his return to the black and silver’s sideline.
Just ran into Raiders owner Mark Davis. Asked directly about about ESPN report re: interest in Jon Gruden. He played coy. Said focus is on winning next game. Asked about Del Rio’s job status. Wouldn’t touch it. Asked again about Gruden report: “these rumors come about every year”
— Scott Bair (@BairNBCS) December 31, 2017
After Gruden was fired by the Buccaneers in January of 2009, Jon went on to be the color commentator for ESPN’s broadcast of Monday Night Football. By not coaching but still maintaining a position in the public eye, Gruden has only garnered more attention from NFL teams with head coaching vacancies. Rumors of his return to coaching began circulating going all the way back to his start at ESPN. However, with each coaching opportunity he turned down, it forced ESPN to give him more money to stay and keep him out of the league as a coach. Currently, Gruden is ESPN’s highest-paid employee. But it looks like it’s for real this time, and Gruden may make his coaching return to the team where it all started.
Jon’s brother, Jay, is the head coach in Washington.
