As a disappointing season comes to a close, the Raiders are reportedly preparing to offer their head coaching job to ESPN Monday Night Football analyst Jon Gruden, who coached the franchise from 1998-2001 before spending the next seven seasons as head coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
According to a report from ESPN’s Adam Schefter and Chris Mortensen, the Raiders are preparing to make Gruden a massive offer that could include an ownership stake in the franchise. The ESPN report said that Gruden will be “tempted to accept,” the offer from the Raiders, but will not make any decisions before Oakland determines whether Jack Del Rio will return as head coach in 2018.
Raiders preparing to pursue Jon Gruden, per @mortreport and me…. https://t.co/A0U7LgV5VQ
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) December 31, 2017
After leading the Raiders to a 12-4 record last season, Del Rio and the Raiders were expected to challenge the New England Patriots for AFC supremacy, but have instead stumbled to the finish line and will finish either 6-10 or 7-9 after playing the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday.
Gruden led the Bucs to the 2002 Super Bowl, defeating the Raiders a season after he was traded from Oakland to Tampa Bay following the Bucs’ decision to fire Tony Dungy.
Gruden is reportedly high on quarterback Derek Carr, and would not have to pay state tax on his contract after the Raiders move to Las Vegas, Nevada.
