The Las Vegas Raiders ushered in a new dynamic at the top by pairing general manager Mike Mayock with head coach Jon Gruden prior to the 2019 campaign.
The duo has since put together a 15-17 record over the past two years, plagued by late-season meltdowns, questionable draft picks, and poor handling of the COVID-19 protocols.
The struggles in Las Vegas have led to some speculation regarding the chemistry between Mayock and Gruden’s partnership. While it would be far-fetched to expect any pairing to see eye-to-eye on a constant basis, there does not appear to be any sense of hostility.
Mayock opened up on his relationship with Gruden during an appearance on The NFL Rhodes Show, via Adam Hill of the Las Vegas Review-Journal.
“Jon and I, it’s interesting, we’re both highly opinionated,” Mayock said. “We see a lot of it the same way. We both like guys that love ball. We both like tough, physical players. We value intrinsically both tangibles and intangibles. But like every coach and G.M. in the league, we’re going to disagree on some people and that’s where it gets fun. Jon challenges me, I challenge him. We do it with coaches, we do it with our scouts. The ultimate goal is to get to the right player.”
Mayock revealed that there are times where both sides are forced to compromise.
“When there’s an appropriate time for me to make a stance, I’m going to make one,” Mayock said. “Jon Gruden is the same way. So there are times when our stances may be at odds and we can get into it. We can close the door and get into it and that’s fine. I think the cool thing is … it’s gotten to the point where it needs to be where we can find a way to get on the same page and just ask what’s best for the Raiders. I think every day we get a little better at that.”
Regardless of which side gets their way, Mayock and Gruden have received their fair share of criticisms on the decisions that have been made.
The addition of wide receiver Antonio Brown is now remembered as one of the most bizarre signings in recent history due to the spat with Mayock. The Raiders also made headlines for their extensive track record of underwhelming first-round picks, including defensive end Clelin Ferrell, cornerback Damon Arnette, wide receiver Henry Ruggs, and now right tackle Alex Leatherwood.
Despite their struggles, Las Vegas still has high hopes for a playoff berth in the 2021 NFL season. Only time will tell whether or not the Mayock and Gruden experiment was a success.
