After finishing out the 2017 NFL season with a 6-10 record, the Oakland Raiders have some questions to answer about their roster. The Raiders could not recapture their electrifying form from the 2016 NFL campaign and often looked out of sync on the field this year.
After Oakland dropped their season finale game against the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 17, the team decided to let go of Jack Del Rio. Del Rio’s firing immediately fueled speculation that ESPN analyst and former Raiders head coach Jon Gruden would finally be making his return to coaching.
According to Scott Bair of NBC Sports Bay Area, Gruden said the possibility to return to Oakland’s sideline is real:
There’s a good chance,” Gruden said. “I’m excited about where I’m at in terms of studying the game and preparing to come back and coach. I just don’t want to sit here and speculate. I don’t know what’s going to happen.
Reports have been circulating that Gruden has been active in rounding up couches to fill his staff and his latest comment just about confirms he is coming back. He has done nothing to stop the rumors as he previously confirmed his interest in the Raiders’ head coaching vacancy.
Bringing Gruden back would be a smart move for the silver and black given his track record with the franchise. While the Raiders looked like a disorganized bunch during the 2017 NFL campaign, someone like Gruden has the capability of instantly turning things around.
