Mark Davis is righting the wrongs of his late father by hiring Jon Gruden
Trading Jon Gruden was easily the biggest mistake of Al Davis’ career. Now his son Mark Davis is correcting that mistake by bringing back Gruden with the hope that he can rekindle the franchise.
Chucky is back in black, baby! After a week and a half of the world’s worst kept secret. Oakland Raiders owner Mark Davis and general manager Reggie McKenzie held a press conference yesterday to introduce Jon Gruden as the new head coach of the Raiders.
It took a 10-year, $100 million contract to reel Gruden in. A hefty price for a head coach that has been out of the league for nine years, but it was one that Mark Davis was willing to pay. With the return of Jon Gruden, Davis is rewriting the wrong’s of his late father Al Davis.
“Brady fumbled that ball.” said Gruden to his former player Charles Woodson. That is how Gruden kicked off his press conference shortly after thanking all of his loved ones. It’s only fitting that Gruden brings up the Tuck Rule game, considering that was his last game as head coach of the Raiders in 2001. That was the game that did him in, causing Davis to trade Gruden to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for four draft picks and cash.
#Raiders record since Jon Gruden was traded to Tampa Bay is 92-164. The only team worse in that span is Cleveland at 76-180
— Josh Dubow (@JoshDubowAP) January 5, 2018
It was a trade that would alter the course for the Oakland Raiders. Following the season after trading Gruden, the Raiders would reach Super Bowl XXXVII only to be beaten by him and the Buccaneers. That was alcohol on the wound and the Raiders wouldn’t recover until the 2016 season. Other than the Super Bowl season and 2016, the Raiders have been an embarrassment. Players and coaches were coming and going. There was no leadership. No continuity. It was like a curse was put on this team ever since Gruden was traded.
17 years later he is back with the Raiders. Gruden has been on a nine-year hiatus from coaching in the NFL. That doesn’t mean that he still wasn’t studying the game. With how rapidly his coordinator hires transpired, it’s clear that Gruden has many ties to the NFL. He’s still a brilliant mind with lots of knowledge. He’s just been adding to it thanks to his insider access of being in the ESPN booth for Monday Night Football .
In his presser, you could just feel the leadership, the knowledge. Something we haven’t felt since.. well.. Jon Gruden. For fans that remember his original tenure there had to have been some nostalgia. This time around we are getting a wiser Gruden. “I’m more big picture than I’ve been in the past.” and with a 10-year contract that will prove beneficial.
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“I never wanted to leave the Raiders.”
Of all the mistakes that Al Davis committed, trading Jon Gruden was the worst of them. Which is exactly why the price to get Gruden back doesn’t matter. It doesn’t affect the cap and it’s not our money.
If you believe that he is the guy that can turnaround the franchise, then you do whatever you can to bring him in. Which is exactly what Mark Davis did by offering a steep price with 10 years to go with it.
While a 10-year contract is unheard of in the NFL, Davis is banking on Gruden to be successful with the franchise…literally. The 10 years allows Gruden to build continuity for the coming seasons and mold the team to his liking. One of his liking’s is quarterback Derek Carr.
“I’ve been thinking about a lot of plays and when I met Derek Carr this morning I thought of a few more.”
Next: 5 takeaways from Jon Gruden's intro presser with Raiders
Gruden’s number one priority is to rehabilitate Carr. He will be demanding and adapt his offense to Carr and the talent around him. Gruden already has his offensive coordinator (Greg Olson) and defensive coordinator (Paul Guenther) set. He’ll now look to fill the remaining spots on the coaching staff. It’ll be interesting to see who else he attracts. Whoever it is, they’ll embark on a mission with Gruden who has “unfinished business” with the Raiders.