Jon Gruden

Jon Gruden Eyeing College HC Gig

September 19th, 2024 at 12:04pm CST by Adam La Rose

Jon Gruden‘s lawsuit against the NFL has not been settled, and a return to the pro coaching ranks before it does remains highly unlikely. In the meantime, the former Raiders head coach is open to a college head coaching opportunity.

“Yeah, I’m interested in coaching,” Gruden said during an interview with CBS Sports’ Brandon Marcello. “Hell yeah, I’m interested in coaching. I know I can help a team, I know I can help young players get better, and I know I can hire a good staff, and that’s the only thing I can guarantee. But yeah, I’m very interested in coaching at any level, period.”

The 61-year-old resigned midway through the 2021 season after emails he sent while an ESPN analyst were uncovered during an investigation into former Commanders owner Dan Snyder. Gruden filed a suit against the NFL and commissioner Roger Goodell, one which the league has attempted to handle via arbitration. Gruden has pressed to have the case heard in open court, although that process has hit a number of obstacles. In July, his legal team asked to have a split decision by the Nevada Supreme Court favoring arbitration overturned.

It remains to be seen if the case will ultimately be presided over by Goodell or an appointee (if the arbitration route is taken) or in open court provided Gruden’s appeals processes work out. A full-time coaching gig at the NFL level would come as a surprise at this point, but the former Buccaneers Super Bowl winner has played a temporary role on staffs recently. Gruden worked as a consultant with the Saints last year, and he spent time alongside Andy Reid and the Chiefs this offseason. His stock could be rebuilt with a successful run at the NCAA level.

Marcello notes that opinion is split amongst college administration officials and athletic directors with respect to a potential Gruden hire. A number of coaches with past off-the-field issues have received second chances at the NCAA level, though, and a market could pick up as Gruden eyes a long-term opportunity to coach again. It will be interesting to see if he manages to land a college gig while his lawsuit against the NFL continues to play out.

“If there’s somebody out there that thinks they need a candidate, somebody to come in there, maybe lather it up a little bit, jazz it up a little bit, I’ll be down here in Tampa,” Gruden added. “I’ll be ready to go if needed.”

NFL Coaching Rumors: Harbaugh, Gruden, Harris

August 4th, 2024 at 9:49pm CST by Ely Allen

New Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh left the NFL to coach at his alma mater in Ann Arbor. It took him nine years, but he eventually led the Wolverines to a national championship before making his way back to the NFL. That’s not all that Harbaugh did during his time at the University of Michigan, though.

Under Harbaugh’s leadership, a former staffer named Connor Stalions was revealed to have led an effort to capture the play-calling signals of future opponents. Investigation into the initial allegations led to several penalties being imposed by the NCAA. According to Mike Florio of NBC Sports, Harbaugh is one of the parties targeted by the collegiate organization. He will be “charged with a Level 1 violation, the highest degree of penalty the NCAA can impose.”

Other coaches, including Stalions, Chris Partridge, and Denard Robinson also had Level 1 violations levied against them, while new Michigan head coach Sherrone Moore faces a Level 2 charge that could result in a suspension. The university itself also reportedly faces a Level 1 violation for an alleged “pattern of noncompliance within the football program” and efforts to obstruct the NCAA’s investigation.

With Harbaugh having departed for the NFL, NCAA violations don’t hold much weight. Should Harbaugh ever make the decision to return to the college ranks of coaching again, he may be forced to face the recourse for his actions and the actions of his staff.

Here are a couple other coaching rumors from around the league:

Former Raiders head coach Jon Gruden‘s most recent exit from the NFL has been a messy one, resulting in Gruden’s attempted lawsuit against the league and its commissioner. While Gruden may be at odds with the NFL, he has slowly been accepted back into NFL coaching circles. In 2023, he worked as a consultant with the Saints, and according to Michael David Smith of NBC Sports, Gruden has been seen doing work for the Chiefs this offseason. Gruden has been spotted working with head coach Andy Reid and several assistants while decked out in Chiefs gear. Reid and Gruden are connected from their time working together for the Packers from 1992 to 1994. There haven’t been any reports of Gruden officially joining the staff in Kansas City, so there’s a chance he was just a camp visitor today.
Lastly, we could be seeing one of the latest instances of a former NFL player making their way into the coaching world. Per Zach Berman of PHLY, former NFL safety Anthony Harris has been working with the Eagles staff this summer. Harris spent six years of his eight-year career in Minnesota, where he once led the league in interceptions (6) despite only playing in 14 games. Following his time with the Vikings, Harris spent a season with Philadelphia as a starter for 14 games. He appeared in three games for the Broncos in 2022 before getting released and signing a free agent deal to return to Philadelphia, though he didn’t appear in any more contests with the Eagles. He remained a free agent all of last year and is technically one now. It’s unclear if he has any intentions to continue playing, seeing as he never officially retired, but if he’s trying his hand at coaching, it’s likely safe to say that his playing days are over.

Latest On Gruden’s Lawsuit Against NFL

July 6th, 2024 at 5:57pm CST by Ely Allen

The next step of former Raiders head coach Jon Gruden‘s lawsuit against the NFL and commissioner Roger Goodell has come and gone with yet another blow to the former head coach’s efforts. With the latest update provided by ESPN this week, the situation continues to seem inevitably headed towards an NFL-led arbitration.

For those unfamiliar with the situation, Gruden sued the league and its commissioner back in 2021 shortly after he felt he was pressured to resign from his job following backlash from the leak of several emails he had sent while he was an employee for ESPN. The emails were sent from 2011 to 2018 to former Commanders president and general manager Bruce Allen and contained inappropriate racist, sexist, and homophobic language. The correspondence was discovered amidst the NFL’s workplace culture investigation into Washington.

Gruden’s initial complaint accused the league of intentionally leaking only his documents selectively. As a result, he claims that the publication of those documents by the Wall Street Journal and New York Times “destroyed his career and scuttled endorsement contracts.”

A district judge in Las Vegas determined that that Gruden’s claims “could show evidence of ‘specific intent’ or an act designed to cause a particular result.” The league appealed to the Nevada State Supreme Court, where a three-justice panel determined (in a 2-1 split decision) that the league was able to force the civil case out of the state courts and into arbitration that could be overseen by Goodell, a named party in the lawsuit.

The two justices who ruled for the NFL claimed that Gruden “understood the NFL constitution allowed for arbitration to resolve disputes” and said that “it wasn’t clear whether Goodell or a designated third-party arbitrator would” oversee the arbitration. The dissenting justice called it “outrageous” that there would even be a possibility Goodell could arbitrate a dispute in which he is a named party.

After this all occurred, we relayed that Gruden had the option to request a rehearing with the three Nevada Supreme Court judges who comprised the split decision votes. He would then potentially have the option to petition for a rehearing including all seven justices that make up the State Supreme Court.

The latest update confirms that Gruden did take that first step, seeking a rehearing from the three-justice panel that made up the May 14 decision. Ultimately, Gruden and his team lost the bid as the panel’s decision was upheld. There have been no reports on whether or not Gruden still can or will seek a rehearing with all seven Nevada Supreme Court members. If his team is able to take this route, the losing party of that rehearing could have the option to take the case to the U.S. Supreme Court, as the NFL did with the Rams relocation case.

While speculation leaves the door open for plenty of possibilities, the odds continue to stack against Gruden getting anything out of this lawsuit. The NFL’s resources vastly outweigh those of Gruden and his attorneys, and the courts have a history of siding with the league. The signs continue to point towards an NFL-led arbitration that will either be headed by Goodell himself or a third-party selected by Goodell and the league.

Whether Gruden and company continue to fight back against what they perceive to be a targeted attack from the league and its leader is yet to be seen. After two major setbacks, the complainant has seen the direction in which this is moving and may decide to cut their losses and run. They’ve yet to exhaust all of their options, but this week’s July 1 decision has continued to limit their ability to fight on their own terms.

Latest On Gruden’s Lawsuit Against NFL

May 15th, 2024 at 9:50pm CST by Ely Allen

Former Raiders head coach Jon Gruden sued the NFL and commissioner Roger Goodell back in 2021, shortly after he felt pressured to resign from his job following the release of several emails that contained inappropriate language from Gruden. The latest on the situation sees the Nevada State Supreme Court determine that Gruden’s case is subject to the league’s arbitration system, per A.J. Perez of Front Office Sports.

This split decision (2-1) by the State’s Court overrules a district court’s original decision and sends the case back down to be remanded to arbitration. When Gruden initially filed the complaint, the league pushed for the courts to toss the case, claiming that a clause in the former coach’s contract required him to file his claim through arbitration, according to ESPN’s Don Van Natta Jr.

Gruden’s attorneys argued that this set an unfair precedent allowing an employer to “unilaterally determine whether an employee’s dispute must go to arbitration and also (allowing) the employer to adjudicate the dispute as the arbitrator.” The district court denied the NFL’s motion to dismiss, sending the case to the State Supreme Court, but the Supreme Court remanded the case back down to the lower court with an order to grant the arbitration motion from the NFL.

Gruden isn’t out of options just yet, though, according to Mike Florio of NBC Sports. Gruden’s first option is to make a request for a rehearing with the three Nevada Supreme Court judges who comprised the split decision votes. If the request is denied, Gruden can then petition for a rehearing with all seven justices on the State Supreme Court.

If these steps are taken, the loser is likely to take the case to the U.S. Supreme Court, something the NFL did with the Rams relocation case. There’s plenty of speculation that occurs after that, but the odds for Gruden getting anything out of this lawsuit remain long. The NFL’s resources vastly outweigh Gruden and his attorneys’, and the courts have a history of siding with the league. The battle is far from over for Gruden and company, though, as they deal with their first setback.

NFC Coaching Notes: Martindale, Macdonald, Gruden, Saints, Canales, Bucs, Bears, Eagles

February 1st, 2024 at 2:16pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Packers went off the board with their defensive coordinator hire, bringing in Boston College HC Jeff Hafley. Matt LaFleur has looked to the college ranks during each of his DC searches, wanting to hire then-Wisconsin staffer Jim Leonhard in 2021. Hafley’s hire comes after the Packers squeezed in another interview with a seasoned NFL coordinator. Don Martindale met with the Pack about the gig, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel’s Tom Silverstein tweets.

Martindale resigned his two-year post as Giants DC after a turbulent second season with Brian Daboll; he has since interviewed with the Jaguars for a job that went to Ryan Nielsen. Martindale has been accused of going rogue at points in New York, with the New York Post’s Paul Schwartz adding another footnote here. Ahead of the Giants’ Christmas game against the Eagles, Martindale is believed to have requested the equipment staff change linebacker Tomon Fox‘s number from 49 to 94 due to the DC’s plans of having him bumped up from the practice squad. That change was made without Daboll or GM Joe Schoen‘s approval.

As the Giants’ DC search continues, here is the latest from the coaching ranks:

The Saints–Jon Gruden connection persists. Although Gruden is not on the radar — at least, as far as we know — for the Saints’ OC job, a GM informed the Washington Post’s Jason La Canfora the former Raiders and Buccaneers HC should be expected to have a bigger role with New Orleans in 2024. Gruden worked as a consultant last summer and met with Saints officials recently. The GM suggested the possibility Gruden could eventually replace Dennis Allen, which would be quite the development considering the circumstances surrounding Gruden’s Las Vegas exit. For now, Gruden, who is still suing the NFL, remains without an NFL job.
Unsurprisingly, Mike Macdonald confirmed he will start his Seahawks tenure as the team’s defensive play-caller. Though, the new Seattle HC said (via SI.com’s Albert Breer) he is open to that changing at some point. Michigan’s 2021 DC, Macdonald called plays for the Ravens over the past two years and became one of this year’s most popular HC candidates as a result. Although Pete Carroll carried a defensive background, he did not serve as the Seahawks’ defensive play-caller.
The Buccaneers have lost much of their offensive staff to Carolina, seeing one-and-done OC Dave Canales take three staffers (receivers coach Brad Idzik, run-game coordinator Harold Goodwin, O-line coach Joe Gilbert). Tom Moore, however, will be staying in Tampa, per Fox Sports’ Peter Schrager. Moore, 85, has been with the Bucs since Bruce Arians‘ 2019 arrival. The former Colts OC, who is now 85, has served as a consultant for the NFC South team. This will be Moore’s 47th NFL season.
Baker Mayfield finished last in QBR in 2022, seeing his Panthers stay responsible for that dismal result. Canales helping the inconsistent QB recover from what happened in Carolina represents a key reason for his HC hire, ESPN.com’s David Newton notes. A Canales selling point hinged on the Bucs’ downfield passing, with Newton adding Tampa Bay went from 24th in that area (6.9 air yards per attempt) in Tom Brady‘s final season to third in 2023 (8.4).
The Eagles have permitted quarterbacks coach Alex Tanney to explore opportunities elsewhere, per ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler. During the period between Brian Johnson‘s exit and the Kellen Moore OC hire, Tanney asked the team for the opportunity. The Eagles are moving on, per the Philadelphia Inquirer’s Jeff McLane. Tanney received interest from the Colts last year, and McLane points to Indianapolis under ex-Eagles OC Shane Steichen as a potential landing spot.
The Bears have hired three more assistants. Chad Morton is signing on as running backs coach, according to the Chicago Sun-Times’ Jason Lieser, while ESPN.com’s Courtney Cronin adds Chris Beatty is coming in as wide receivers coach. Most recently with the Chargers, Beatty coached D.J. Moore at Maryland. A former NFL return man, Morton is following OC Shane Waldron from Seattle. Morton was the Seahawks’ RBs coach from 2017-23. Chicago also hired Jason Houghtaling as assistant O-line coach, NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero adds; Houghtaling was Tennessee’s O-line coach in 2023.

Mutual Interest Between Saints, Jon Gruden

January 10th, 2024 at 12:32pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Saints are not expected to fire Dennis Allen, but another former Raiders head coach may be in the team’s plans. After spending time as a Saints consultant last year, Jon Gruden is on the radar for a full-time role.

If Gruden does not end up landing a head coaching job during this year’s cycle, NOLA.com’s Jeff Duncan reports the former Raiders and Buccaneers HC is interested in joining the Saints as an assistant. The Saints share that interest and recently met with the free agent coach.

Gruden, whose lawsuit against the NFL is ongoing, met with Saints officials and attended a team meeting before the team’s Week 17 game in Tampa, Duncan notes. Gruden, who lives in Tampa, had dinner with Saints brass, including GM Mickey Loomis, that weekend. Gruden, 60, attended Saints minicamp in a consulting role and spent time at training camp as an unpaid observer.

“In Jon, we have a resource here that is football through and through,” Allen said in May. “And he’s had an opportunity to work with Derek Carr. “So what better [way to use that] resource than to just get some thoughts and ideas on how he worked with Derek and what he thought worked well with Derek?”

A Gruden-Saints partnership would be a major development, considering he sued the NFL — over the events that led to problematic emails leaking and the Raiders subsequently forcing him to resign — more than two years ago. That lawsuit has not exactly made Gruden a popular figure with Roger Goodell and league higher-ups, but Brian Flores has remained an active coach despite filing a discrimination lawsuit against the NFL and multiple teams. A hearing in Gruden’s case is on tap Wednesday in the Nevada Supreme Court. He does not intend to settle the suit.

Should the Saints bring Gruden aboard, Duncan adds it would unlikely be as a replacement for offensive coordinator Pete Carmichael. The Saints’ play-caller and NFL’s longest-tenured OC (at 15 years) is not a lock to return, but Gruden would be expected to join the staff in a senior assistant-type role. Allen returned to New Orleans in that fashion in 2015, though the ex-Raiders HC replaced DC Rob Ryan in 2016.

A rumor last month connected Gruden to what would be a stunning return to the Raiders, with such a reunion representing a potential path for his lawsuit to go away. The Raiders have not been connected to their two-time HC since and have begun sending out interview requests. Unsurprisingly, Gruden has not received any known requests from teams. It still appears another HC opportunity will be unlikely for the former Super Bowl-winning leader. Given Gruden’s age, his teams’ performance since the Bucs’ Super Bowl XXXVII victory and the nature of his latest Raiders departure, an assistant-level role represents a much more logical gateway back to the NFL.

Derek Carr made strides in Gruden’s offense, and the Saints had initially spoken to their quarterback’s four-year Oakland-Las Vegas HC about concepts that work best for the passer. Carr finished in the top 11 in QBR from 2019-20. Carr finished 14th under Josh McDaniels, who deemed him a poor fit (before being shown the door months later), and placed 17th in the metric during an injury-plagued Saints debut. Gruden has not worked as an assistant since his time as the Eagles’ OC in the mid-1990s.

Raiders Notes: Gruden, Brady, O’Connell

December 14th, 2023 at 12:41pm CST by Adam La Rose

The Raiders are one of two teams (the Panthers being the other) which are guaranteed to be involved in a full-scale coaching search this offseason. With Josh McDaniels having been let go midway through his second season at the helm, a number of candidates will no doubt receive consideration in the coming weeks.

One of those could be a familiar face. Vincent Bonsignore of the Las Vegas Review-Journal reports Jon Gruden could be brought back in a move which would have signficant legal ramifications. Gruden resigned in the wake of leaded emails emerging in 2021, prompting him to file a lawsuit against the NFL. That action is aimed at uncovering the identity of the person responsible for the leaks, and Gruden intends to continue with the suit.

As Bonsignore notes, however, the NFL may be on board with “avoid[ing] a potential public-relations nightmare by simply letting Gruden be re-hired” by the Raiders. The 60-year-old was in the midst of Year 4 of his second tenure with the organization when he resigned. He has not been on the coaching radar since, fueling the argument made in his lawsuit. Dropping the suit in exchange for being brought back would mark an unexpected end to this situation, though Bonsignore adds it is unknown if owner Mark Davis would be interested in such a move.

Here are some other notes out of Sin City:

Tom Brady‘s bid to become a minority Raiders owner has still not been approved. The agreement which would see the seven-time Super Bowl winner take on a stake in the franchise (which could also include having a say in the hiring process for the replacements of McDaniels and ex-GM Dave Ziegler) was not discussed during yesterday’s owners meeting, per Mark Maske of the Washington Post. However, there remains optimism that ratification will be attained in the future as Brady prepares for a transition to the broadcast booth.
The Raiders lost to the Vikings in Week 14 despite only allowing three points. The team’s lackluster offensive showing led to questions about Vegas’ quarterback situation, but no changes under center are expected. Rookie Aidan O’Connell is expected to get the start in tonight’s game against the Chargers, as first reported by ESPN’s Adam Schefter. Veterans Jimmy Garoppolo and Brian Hoyer are on the roster, but both face very uncertain futures compared to O’Connell. The latter has been in place as the starter since McDaniels was let go, so it comes as little surprise Vegas will elect to keep him atop the depth chart.
While O’Connell will likely be in place for tonight’s battle of the backups, the Raiders may not have their top rushing option available. Josh Jacobs has not practiced during this short week, and Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports his status is very much in doubt (video link). If last year’s rushing champion is at risk of worsening the quad injury he suffered on Sunday, he will not suit up, Rapoport adds. Jacobs was one of three franchise tag recipients at the RB position this offseason, and no long-term deal was worked out. He has remained a key member of the team’s offense in 2023, logging double-digit carries all but once in 13 games. Jacobs has seen his yards per carry mark drop compared to last season (from 4.9 to 3.5) but he leads the team in rushing by 742 yards, meaning his absence would deal a major blow to the Raiders’ attempt at an offensive rebound.

Dan Snyder Indemnification Issue Poses Threat To Commanders Sale

July 13th, 2023 at 8:58am CST by Adam La Rose

Last week, all parties appeared to be in the clear regarding the sale of the Commanders being approved without issue. That may still ultimately be the case, but a new development could threaten the sale being ratified as scheduled.

Mark Maske and Nicki Jhabvala of the Washington Post report that issues related to negotiations between outgoing owner Dan Snyder‘s legal representation and the NFL could “complicate the approval and closing” of the sale. Specifically, the matter of indemnification represents a possible roadblock late in the sales process, though it is unknown at this point whether it will be sufficient to delay the owners’ ratification vote.

The issues are believed to be at least partially related to Snyder’s alleged involvement in the events which led to Jon Gruden‘s resignation and subsequent lawsuit. A report from yesterday on the matter provided further details on the Raiders’ handling of their then-head coach, and the accusation that Snyder leaked the emails which resulted in Gruden’s departure during an investigation into the Commanders. Gruden has vowed to continue his ongoing lawsuit against the NFL, so it would come as little surprise if Snyder were to use the coming days to acquire further legal protection related to the suit.

Snyder is not thought to be seeking indemnification for himself or the Commanders regarding the ongoing investigation into himself and the franchise. However, his willingness to provide legal protection to the league’s other owners and, perhaps most importantly, commissioner Roger Goodell and NFL attorney Jeff Pash with respect to the ongoing Gruden situation is in question. The Post reports that Snyder is not prepared to sign an affidavit stating he did not leak the emails which cost Gruden his job, something he previously was willing to do. The team’s position denies that, noting that he has already testified he is not responsible for the leaks.

Another factor which could complicate matters is Snyder’s sister Michele, a part-owner of the Commanders. She is reportedly unwilling to indemnify the league and other owners as they pertain to the Gruden case, something which is likely to be one of the terms of the franchise’s sale agreement. All Commanders owners must fully agree to all provisions of the agreement, which is set to see Josh Harris purchase the team for $6.05 billion.

One of the Post’s sources describes this latest development as “signficant,” though some time does still remain to resolve the complications before the ratification vote, which is scheduled for July 20. It will be worth watching if this emerges as a last-minute hurdle to be cleared, or a wider issue threatening what has long been expected to be a unanimous approval of the sale.

Jon Gruden Does Not Intend To Settle Suit; Latest On Dan Snyder’s Role In Scandal

July 12th, 2023 at 4:43pm CST by Sam Robinson

Jon Gruden has resurfaced on the NFL radar, seeing the Saints bring him in as a consultant earlier this offseason. Gruden spent time working with Derek Carr, with the Saints wanting to install some of Gruden’s concepts in their Carr-led offense. Carson Wentz is also receiving Gruden pointers while training as a free agent this offseason.

But the veteran NFL coach is unlikely to land another top job in the league given the way his most recent HC stint ended. More details surrounding Gruden’s Raiders exit have come to light, via ESPN.com’s Don Van Natta Jr. and Seth Wickersham, who report the team was initially aiming to retain the embattled coach before the second batch of problematic emails dropped on October 11, 2021.

Communication between Gruden, an ESPN employee when he wrote these seminal emails, and then-Washington president Bruce Allen included crude remarks about Roger Goodell, gay NFL players, female referees and Washington cheerleaders. The first email — made public Oct. 8, 2021 as a result of the NFL’s Dan Snyder investigation — included Gruden using a racist trope to describe NFLPA executive director DeMaurice Smith. In between that email becoming public and the wave of New York Times-uncovered emails three days later, Mark Davis planned to stick with Gruden. Before the second wave of emails emerged, Davis discussed Gruden’s status with current and former Raiders, per Wickersham and Van Natta, who report some wanted the embattled HC gone while others did not.

In between the Wall Street Journal report and the New York Times follow-up that ended up sealing Gruden’s fate, Davis and then-Raiders president Dan Ventrelle spoke with Roger Goodell and lead NFL counsel Jeff Pash. The two NFL bigwigs applied pressure on Davis to act, according to ESPN, with Goodell indicating more emails were coming. While Gruden coached the Raiders’ Week 5 game — a loss to the Bears — he submitted a forced resignation the next day. A month later, Gruden sued Goodell and the NFL.

Thus far on Gruden’s legal journey, he has enjoyed success. Gruden does not intend to settle this suit, according to ESPN, for any amount and aims to “burn the house down” to expose the league for an alleged conspiracy to remove him as Raiders HC. After Davis was nudged to remove Gruden as HC, the Raiders owner blasted the league and Snyder in a conversation with the recently dismissed coach.

The Gruden matter coming out of the NFL’s Snyder investigation helped induce the House Oversight Committee to launch its investigation into the Washington owner. The Congressional probe included Lisa Friel, the NFL’s special counsel for investigations, indicating the leak came from the Commanders and not the league. Denials from every accused party — except for Smith, whom ESPN asserts bragged about leaking the email that included Gruden’s racist trope to describe him — have followed. Gruden has long believed Goodell was responsible for the leak.

Snyder is accused here of leaking the emails to curry favor with the commissioner and to deflect from his scandals. The longtime Washington owner, however, is believed to have attended each of his team’s games during his suspension. Snyder’s July 2021 de facto ban was supposed to last “several months,” but he believed the punishment was to last only a month. With Snyder already receiving what most perceived as a light penalty (the $10MM fine, the short ban and the Beth Wilkinson investigation not producing a report), some owners believe he would not have been effectively forced to sell his franchise had he complied with the terms of the 2021 suspension.

Months later, an ESPN report that contended Snyder had gathered dirt on Goodell and a number of owners accelerated the push for a sale. Snyder and Philadelphia 76ers/New Jersey Devils owner Josh Harris have agreed on a sale, and a ratification vote is scheduled for July 20. Snyder, who remains the subject of a second NFL investigation, has owned the NFC East franchise since 1999.

Latest On Jon Gruden’s Saints Meeting

May 31st, 2023 at 10:22am CST by Sam Robinson

Embroiled in litigation against the NFL and Roger Goodell stemming from his October 2021 forced resignation, Jon Gruden has hovered well off the league’s coaching radar since his Raiders departure. The Super Bowl-winning HC’s recent Saints visit brought him back onto the grid.

The Saints met with Gruden over a four-day period last week, seeking his input regarding Derek Carr‘s strengths and weaknesses. Gruden coached Carr for three-plus seasons, and while that tenure ended badly, the two-time Raiders HC helped the passer rebound from a down mid-career stretch.

“In Jon, we have a resource here that is football through and through,” Saints HC Dennis Allen said, via SI.com’s Albert Breer. “And he’s had an opportunity to work with Derek Carr. “So what better [way to use that] resource than to just get some thoughts and ideas on how he worked with Derek and what he thought worked well with Derek?”

Gruden visited Saints OTA sessions on Wednesday and Thursday, per Breer, doing so after having dinner with GM Mickey Loomis on Tuesday night in New Orleans. While Gruden supplied the Saints’ staff with a number of ideas on how best to use Carr, Breer adds Allen made a point to inform 15th-year Saints OC Pete Carmichael the team would not be running the Gruden offense. Even as it will still be Carmichael calling plays for a second straight season, some of Gruden’s concepts will be added to the mix via various tweaks.

Gruden spent a season working with Sean Payton in Philadelphia; the Eagles employed Payton as QBs coach under then-OC Gruden in 1997. Although considerable time has passed since that point, that link added an element of familiarity for Gruden regarding the offense Carmichael is running in New Orleans.

Payton ran the show on offense for the Saints throughout his 15-year run on the sidelines, though Carmichael served as their play-caller during the now-Broncos HC’s 2012 Bountygate suspension. Carmichael received another chance to call plays last season, after Payton stepped down from his post. The Saints improved from 28th to 19th in total offense from 2021-22 but scored fewer points compared to Payton’s final year, falling from 19th to 22nd in that area. The team then handed Carr a four-year, $150MM contract (featuring a $100MM practical guarantee) to stop the post-Drew Brees QB carousel.

After Carr’s third-place MVP finish in 2016, his QBR dropped to 20th (2017) and then 27th (2018). The ’18 result came in Gruden’s first year, a season in which the Raiders traded Amari Cooper. Despite the Raiders’ Antonio Brown trade failing to produce any regular-season snaps in 2019, Carr began his bounce-back effort in Gruden’s offense. He ranked 10th in QBR in 2019, 11th in 2020 and 14th during the 2021 season that ended with OC Greg Olson calling the shots. Carr did not prove a fit in Josh McDaniels‘ offense, and the Raiders released him after nine seasons.

Gruden’s lawsuit against the league is ongoing, but Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk adds the Saints did not receive negative feedback for their meeting. The Saints had even planned to bring in Gruden earlier, per Breer, but schedules did not align. Gruden, 59, has expressed a desire to coach again. A fourth HC opportunity seems highly unlikely, but the Saints appear serious about using some of Gruden’s concepts this season.

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