Come to think of it, Jon Gruden’s second stint with the Las Vegas Raiders was a disaster when team owner Mark Davis announced the hire.
Could it be that the franchise wanted to atone for the mistake they made with him in the past?
The Raiders traded him to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and the two teams met in the Super Bowl.
It was a mismatch because Gruden knew his former team too well.
Fast forward to 2018, and he had been out of the game for so long.
His ESPN stint made him an even bigger personality than he already was.
"For us to be moving back and not forward … National Football League, this hurts me."
A powerful conversation from the Sunday NFL Countdown crew on Jon Gruden’s 2011 email that included a racist comment in reference to NFLPA executive director DeMaurice Smith: pic.twitter.com/FQvMGFUfOj
— ESPN (@espn) October 10, 2021
Dealing with coaches who are media figures can be tricky because of the ego involved.
In the end, it was his ego that ended his stint as head coach.
While the controversial emails happened a decade ago, there’s was no way he could stick around.
He can claim that he’s a changed man, but his rhetoric is unforgivable.
If celebrities get jail time for crimes that happened way back, spilling racial hate through any form of communication deserves punishment as well.
ESPN talking about how the Raiders organization handles Jon Gruden’s behavior while he was an ESPN employee is wild
— Mike Ryan (Ruiz) ⭐️⭐️ (@MichaelRyanRuiz) October 12, 2021
However, Gruden’s departure can even become a blessing in disguise for several reasons.
3. Keeping Him Would Be A Major Distraction
Imagine Gruden fielding questions about his derogatory remarks from the media every week.
It may come to the point that the writers wouldn’t pay attention to the game.
From a business standpoint, some fans may have stayed away from the team until the Raiders cut ties with Gruden.
That outcome may lead to financial losses that would affect their capability to run the team.
"I have resigned as Head Coach of the Las Vegas Raiders. I love the Raiders and do not want to be a distraction. Thank you to all the players, coaches, staff, and fans of Raider Nation. I’m sorry, I never meant to hurt anyone."
Jon Gruden
— Las Vegas Raiders (@Raiders) October 12, 2021
As for the players, they would get bombarded with questions about their head coach as well.
Such a distraction can take their mind out of the game, and the burden is heavier for African-American players.
If winning in the NFL alone is difficult, what more if there’s a cloud that hovers over the team?
Gruden’s departure lets them bury the incident and get a fresh start.
2. Mike Mayock Will Be Gone Soon
Gruden hired his old buddy to become general manager during his second stint with the Raiders.
Unfortunately, they did more harm than good with the roster.
They traded away cornerstones like Amari Cooper and Khalil Mack for meager returns.
Those questionable trades reveal their impatience in building the team, and it cost them some winning seasons.
I can tell you with 100% certainty that Jon Gruden and Mike Mayock didn't always agree. Mayock had a boss. This was Gruden's ship. Gruden would get emotionally invested in guys, Mayock is a tactician.
— Hondo Carpenter (@HondoCarpenter) October 12, 2021
They made some nice picks in the last two drafts like Henry Ruggs, Damon Arnette, and Alex Leatherwood.
However, you can imagine how far their team would go with Mack and Cooper around.
With Gruden gone, Mayock may be down to his last few months with the Raiders.
1. They Have An Attractive Head Coaching Opening
The Raiders job opening isn’t a hard pitch because they have a solid offense and an improving defense.
Mention Ruggs, Hunter Renfrow, Zay Jones, and Darren Waller to any coaching prospect, and they would want to mentor that squad.
Plus, being in Las Vegas is an underestimated perk that can persuade any potential hire.
🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/CvJJW8rpxn
— Allegiant Stadium (@AllegiantStadm) October 10, 2021
Filling the position will be easy, and the bar set by Gruden isn’t that high either.
It should be easier for the next head coach to build a better legacy.
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