If you your’e not a fan of Jon Gruden on Monday Night Football, his statement on the Oakland Raiders’ head coach vacancy – which is essentially his if he wants it – will probably have you throwing up in your mouth.
Anyways, here’s what the former head coach and current Monday Night Football analyst told the Bay Area News Group Tuesday when pressed on the notion that he could be returning to the Raiders:
“My understanding is they’re interviewing candidates this week and they’re going to let everybody know sometime early next week or whenever they make their decision,” Gruden said.
Asked specifically if he was a candidate, Gruden said, “Well, I think I am being considered, yes. I hope I’m a candidate.”
Now I know Gruden has to kind of tip-toe around the speculation given the rule the NFL has in place when it comes to hiring a head coach, notably the Rooney Rule. However Gruden didn’t have to say anything and I’m sure Jack Del Rio probably wants to punch him in the face.
Gruden last coached in the NFL back in 2008 with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and has since been linked to a number of job openings in the NFL and college alike. He was originally hired by the Raiders back in 1998 and coached the team through the 2001 season.
Why Gruden would want to leave his cushy Monday Night gig for a job that has a shelf life of just under 4.5 years is beyond me. However Oakland looking for past success in a guy who’s been out of the League for almost a decade is so totally Raiders.
