Will Jon Gruden ever return to coaching? (Kim Klement-US PRESSWIRE)
With the Oakland Raiders searching for a new head coach, their gaze might turn to a name from their past.
Jon Gruden might be contacted by the team about returning to his former job, team owner Mark Davis told multiple media outlets Tuesday.
“(Gruden) may reach out to me,” Davis told reporters. “I may reach out to him. I may reach out to anybody. That’s the future, and I’m not going to talk about future coaches.”
Gruden, currently an ESPN football analyst, coached the Raiders from 1998-2001, compiling a 40-28 record, including the postseason.
Oakland traded Gruden to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in February 2002. In exchange, the Raiders received two first-round draft picks, two second-rounders and $8 million.
In a twist of fate, the Raiders met the Buccaneers in the next Super Bowl, with Gruden’s new team beating his old team to win the championship.
Oakland did not post a winning record and did not reach the playoffs in the next 11 seasons. The Raiders are off to an 0-4 start this year, prompting them to fire coach Dennis Allen this week and replace him on an interim basis with Tony Sparano.
Gruden, 51, compiled a 60-57 record in Tampa Bay, counting postseason games. The Buccaneers fired him in January 2009 after the team lost its final four games to finish 9-7 and miss out on the playoffs.
In May 2009, Gruden was hired by ESPN to serve as a commentator on “Monday Night Football.”
NFL.com’s Albert Breer reported that Gruden would return to the sideline only if he believed a team had a franchise quarterback, adding that Gruden “really likes” Raiders rookie QB Derek Carr.
Citing anonymous sources, NFL.com’s Michael Silver said the Raiders are prepared to pay a high sum to attract Gruden.
