Now that the Buccaneers are expected to retain Dirk Koetter as their head coach in 2018 (though Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk thinks that Tampa Bay could easily reverse course in that regard), the Raiders are upping the ante in their pursuit of Jon Gruden. Gruden, of course, previously served as head coach of Tampa Bay and Oakland, though his name has been more heavily connected to the Buccaneers in recent weeks.
But ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports that the Raiders are preparing to pursue Gruden with an offer so strong that it could include an ownership stake in the team. Schefter adds that Gruden, currently an ESPN analyst, will be tempted to accept the offer, though he would prefer to wait until the regular season concludes and Oakland formally makes a decision on current head coach Jack Del Rio.
There are complications to a potential reunion. For instance, if Raiders owner Mark Davis does indeed offer Gruden an ownership stake, the contract would need to be approved by all 32 owners and the league finance committee, and such approval could be difficult to attain, as ownership would not want to set a precedent. Furthermore, Del Rio and Gruden are represented by the same agent, Bob LaMonte.
Nonetheless, one has to figure that if the Raiders want Gruden, and Gruden wants them, the two sides will find a way to make it happen. After all, Gruden never wanted to leave the Raiders to begin with, and though Oakland has struggled this season, there are a lot of factors that make its head coaching job an enviable one. Plus, although Gruden has been frequently discussed as a highly-coveted head coaching candidate in past years, this is the first year that he has made calls around the league in an effort to piece together a potential staff.
Interestingly, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link) names current CBS analyst (and former Raiders QB) Rich Gannon as someone that Gruden has contacted as a potential quarterbacks coach.
Gruden declined to specifically comment on the Raiders’ position.
Sure he won a super bowl, but what’s remembered from that team is its defense… Gruden has made himself a household name for his QB camp/on air personalities. Overrated hire
I’d have to disagree that he’s overrated (but would agree the hype is a bit extreme when it comes to an ownership stake). The team he played against in the Super Bowl was pretty much his as well. He’s been successful wherever he’s been at the NFL level.
Gruden made himself a household name in Oakland where he took a journeyman backup QB in his mid 30s and shaped him into a league MVP.
Please Mark do not do it.
Chucky would be great
Anyone who says not to hire this guy or he’s overrated is out of their mind. This would be a great hire and I think it would be exactly what the Raiders need as they have the talent but just aren’t getting the job done. I think we’ve seen what a coach can do..49ers get Harbaugh and that season they are a fumble away from the Super Bowl then in the Super Bowl and then a interception away from the Suoer Bowl all in the first 3 years…Rams get McVay and they go from last in PPG and now are first and went from not even close to being a playoff team to being in the playoffs and being a real threat in the playoffs. A coach and a QB are everything for a team and if the Raiders get a good coaching staff they will be a dominant team in the AFC.
I hear the Raiders will cut Crabtree after this season as well. Come back to SF, Michael!
Crabtree needs to come and play with the Cowboys or the Texans.