ESPN reports that Jon Gruden being a new head coach for the Oakland Raiders is a done deal. According to ESPN‘s Adam Schefter, Gruden will sign one of the longest coaching deals in NFL history, inking a 10-year contract, worth around $100 million. This means that Gruden will be one of the best-paid members of the Raiders since only three players (Derek Carr, Kelechi Osemele, and Gabe Jackson) are earning more than $10 million annually. The Raiders will officially introduce Gruden on Tuesday when they called up a news conference.
Although a surprise, Gruden’s 10-year contract isn’t a first in the league’s history since Dallas Cowboys previously gave both Jimmy Johnson and Tom Landry 10-year deals. It does, however, show how Raiders are desperate to get their man. The owner Mark Davis was so determined to hire Gruden that he was ready to offer him an ownership stake in the team as part of the deal.
NFL announced on Friday that during their search for a new head coach, the Raiders compiled with Rooney Rule which requires the team to interview minority candidates for head coaching and senior football operation jobs.
“We believe the Rooney Rule was complied with. Minority candidates were interviewed,” – said NFL executive vice president of communications Joe Lockhart during a conference call. “We’ll see what decision they make.“
Jon Gruden will make a return to Oakland Raiders, who gave him his first head coach job in 1998. In his first stint with the team, he compiled 38-26 record before being traded to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2004. On his first season with the Buccaneers, Gruden won the Super Bowl after 12-4 regular season finish. He served as team’s coach until 2008, when he was fired. Gruden’s career record is 100-85 and 5-4 in the postseason. He currently serves as an analyst for ESPN‘s Monday Night Football.
