Every day that passes, it seems more and more like a certainty that Jon Gruden and the Raiders are headed for a reunion. Owner Mark Davis wasted no time firing head coach Jack Del Rio just minutes after the team’s Week 17 loss to the Chargers. Shortly after, Adam Schefter reported that Gruden will be the team’s next head coach, and Gruden himself said coyly on Tuesday that he hopes to be considered for the position.
NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport was pretty explicit about the likelihood of Gruden to the Raiders when he joined Murph & Mac on Tuesday morning.
“Nothing is done until it’s done but there’s no way the Raiders fired Jack Del Rio — a Coach of the Year candidate last year, and a guy they gave a new contract to — there’s no way they fire him without knowing which way they go,” Rapoport said. “Gruden has been calling around now talking to people about joining him with the Raiders. So it’s all happening. It hasn’t happened yet, but it will. Basically people are talking about this like it’s a done deal.”
Gruden coached the Raiders from 1998-2001 going 38-26 and making the playoffs twice before being traded to Tampa Bay. After winning the Super Bowl in his first season with the Bucs, Gruden was less successful, finishing 57-55 in seven seasons.
“I think it’s going to be a very interesting season in Oakland. Gruden is a big name, as big a name as you could get. Sort of a white whale for Mark Davis and a lot of owners, but his record is not perfect either. So I’ll be curious which Gruden they get.”
Listen to the full interview below. To hear Rapoport’s comments on Gruden start from 1:30.