BREAKING: Jon Gruden Makes His NFL Return As Team Brings Him In To Coach Offense
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – OCTOBER 10: Head coach Jon Gruden of the Las Vegas Raiders reacts on the sideline during a game against the Chicago Bears at Allegiant Stadium on October 10, 2021 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
The New Orleans Saints brought in Derek Carr’s former head coach to help the coaching staff with their offense.
Per a report from Jeff Duncan of The Times-Picayune/The New Orleans Advocate, the Saints brought in ex-Las Vegas Raiders and Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Jon Gruden in to provide some input on the Carr-led offense.
The Saints brought Jon Gruden to town this week to, among other things, pick his brain about their offensive transition to Derek Carr:
Jeff Duncan: What will the Saints offense look like under Derek Carr? Similar to past years, with tweaks https://t.co/hOi1GNIaEg via @nolanews
— Jeff Duncan (@JeffDuncan_) May 26, 2023
During the midst of the 2021 season, Gruden resigned after previous emails he wrote had been leaked. The emails, dated between 2011 and 2018, including homophobic, misogynistic and racist slurs/tropes.
Gruden’s first head coaching stint with the Raiders lasted from 1998 to 2001. He was then traded to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the offseason, fittingly leading the franchise to a Super Bowl 37 appearance against his former team in the 2002 season.
The Bucs humiliated the Raiders in the big game, earning Gruden his first Super Bowl ring. He was fired after a disappointing 2008 season and later moved into ESPN’s “Monday Night Football” commentary booth.
After the 2017 season, owner Mark Davis handed Gruden a 10-year contract worth $100 million to return to coaching. Las Vegas went 22-31 over Gruden’s three seasons and a bit there in Sin City, though they wound up making the playoffs under interim HC Rich Bisaccia following Gruden’s resignation.
Carr was the Raiders’ quarterback for the entirety of Gruden’s second coaching stint with the organization. Following his release from Las Vegas, Carr signed a four-year contract with New Orleans in free agency.
