Raiders rumored to be pursuing Jon Gruden once again

Return to the NFL sideline might be on the horizon for ESPN’s Jon Gruden. The one-time Super Bowl champion is reportedly being pursued by one of his former teams in the Oakland Raiders, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter and Chris Mortensen.

The Oakland Raiders are preparing to pursue ESPN analyst Jon Gruden with an offer so strong it could even include an ownership stake in the teams, according to league sources.

Recently, a report surfaced about the Raiders’ mindset in terms of what they intend to do with the current head coach, Jack Del Rio. Although Del Rio led the team to a 12-4 record and ended the long playoff drought last season, the Raiders have failed to live up to expectations with the team recently firing defensive coordinator Ken Norton Jr. and offensive coordinator Todd Downing potentially on his way out after the 2017 campaign.

With the Raiders unable to put it together this season resulting in what will be a disappointing end to a year in which the team had his expectations, Del Rio could become the scapegoat for Oakland if Gruden is genuinely there for the taking.

Despite the rumors surrounding Gruden’s potential return to coaching, the longtime ESPN analyst has coached a game in the NFL since his last year with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2008. Gruden has turned down jobs left and right while keeping his high-paying gig with ESPN, but an ownership stake in the Raiders might be enough to get him out of the broadcast booth and back on the sidelines in Oakland.