The Raiders are prepared to make a serious offer to Jon Gruden in hopes that he would return as head coach of the Raiders, according to an ESPN report.
Gruden, according to ESPN, has even been an offered an ownership stake in the team as an enticement.
"I don't want to sit here and speculate," Gruden told the network. "There is no news to report. I can't say I haven't taken any phone calls. I take a lot of phone calls from coaches, some others ... yeah, sometimes owners. Guys want to bounce ideas off me. I'm here to help people."
Raiders coach Jack Del Rio was given an extension following the 2016 after a 12-4 season that was believed to pay him at least $5 million per season over the next four seasons.
The year prior, the Raiders also gave general manager Reggie McKenzie an extension, and it's not known how Gruden's hiring would affect the general manager in terms of the draft and free agency.
The biggest issue for the Raiders in the upcoming offseason will be to get quarterback Derek Carr back in form after a shaky 2017 season. Carr appeared on Gruden's yearly ESPN series with prospective NFL quarterbacks and enjoyed the experience.
Carr regressed this season under Todd Downing, who was promoted by Del Rio while Bill Musgrave's contract was not renewed.
Regardless of whether Gruden is hired, the Raiders, should they part with offensive coordinator Todd Downing, are faced with giving Carr his fourth offensive coordinator in five seasons following Greg Olson in 2014, Musgrave in 2015-16 and Downing in 2017.
Gruden was hired by Al Davis to coach the Raiders from 1998 through 2001, posting records of 8-8, 8-8, 12-4 and 11-5. Following a loss to New England in the tuck rule game following the 2001 season, Gruden was traded to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for two first-round draft picks, two second-round draft picks, and $8 million in cash.
The Raiders made the AFC championship game under Bill Callahan, but were beaten decisively by Gruden's Bucs in Super Bowl XXXVII.
Raiders owner Mark Davis has long had a good relationship with Gruden. Gruden has been reluctant to return to the NFL in part because of a high-paying job with ESPN as the Monday Night Football analyst, and because he has been vocal in his distaste for NFLPA mandated restrictions on practice and training time in the offseason.
Gruden has a career record of 100-85.
