The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
4. Report: Gruden to lead Raiders
Contract is expected to be worth close to $100 million.
ESPN says Jon Gruden will receive a 10-year deal worth close to $100 million to leave the broadcast booth and rejoin the team he led from 1998-2001.
The Oakland Raiders are set to bring Jon Gruden back for a second stint as coach.
A person with knowledge of the team’s plans said the Raiders are planning a news conference Tuesday to announce Gruden is leaving the broadcast booth to come back to coaching.
The Raiders fired Jack Del Rio following a six-win season and talk immediately turned to Gruden.
Gruden, 54, spent four years as coach for the Raiders before being dealt to Tampa Bay, where he beat Oakland in the Super Bowl following his first season in 2002.
Gruden has been out of coaching for nine years while serving as the lead analyst for ESPN’s “Monday Night Football.”
ESPN reported Gruden will receive a 10-year deal that will be the longest coaching contract in NFL history and could be worth close to $100 million.
Gruden has already started putting together a staff with Cincinnati defensive coordinator Paul Guenther among those expected to join.
Gruden told ESPN this week he had a good talk with Raiders owner Mark Davis about returning to the organization and believed there was a “good chance” it would happen.
He is scheduled to work the network’s playoff game today in Kansas City between the Chiefs and Titans.
Gruden spent four seasons as coach in Oakland from 1998-2001. After leading the Raiders to 8-8 records his first two years, Gruden helped the team reach the AFC title game following the 2000 season and got Oakland back into the playoffs the following season.
His tenure ended shortly after the “Tuck Rule” loss to the Patriots when he was traded the following month to Tampa Bay for two firstround draft picks, two second-rounders and $8 million.
Gruden beat the Raiders in the Super Bowl in his first season with the Buccaneers. He has a 95-81 career record.
Bills: Running back LeSean McCoy is questionable for Sunday’s AFC wildcard playoff game against the Jaguars. McCoy sustained a right ankle injury in last weekend’s win at Miami. He was carted off the field but returned to practice on a limited basis Friday.
Jaguars: Wide receiver Marqise Lee (sprained right ankle) practiced for the first time in three weeks, increasing his chances of playing in Sunday’s wild-card game against Buffalo.
Redskins: Quarterback Kirk Cousins said he is likely to wait until March for any possible negotiations, indicating he would first make the Redskins decide whether to apply a transition or franchise tag on him for the third year in a row.
Cowboys: Veteran defensive coordinator Rod Marinelli is mulling whether to return for the 2018 season, according to team sources. And if he does, 2018 will likely be it.
Dolphins: Wide receiver Jarvis Landry was fined $48,620 by the NFL for unsportsmanlike conduct after being ejected following a fight in Sunday’s loss to the Bills. Miami running back Kenyan Drake and Bills cornerback Leonard Johnson were each fined $12,154 for their parts in the fight.
Bears: Vikings offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur interviewed for Chicago’s coaching vacancy. Shurmur was 9-23 as the Browns’ coach from 2011-12.
Noteworthy: Antonio Brown is one of four repeaters from last season on The Associated Press 2017 NFL All-Pro Team, and the only unanimous choice. The Steelers wide receiver drew all 50 ballots from a nationwide panel of media members. Brown is one of four players to make his fourth All-Pro squad, joining New England tight end Rob Gronkowski, Carolina linebacker Luke Kuechly and Rams punter Johnny Hekker.