Davis' 'dream' hire of Gruden turns into Raiders nightmare

Updated Oct. 12, 2021 2:19 p.m. ET

Associated Press

When Jon Gruden returned to the Raiders back in 2018 he was greeted with a pep rally news conference, owner Mark Davis calling it a “dream come true” and the “biggest day of his life.”

There was much less pomp and circumstance surrounding the coach's rapid departure, with Davis sending out a simple statement: “I have accepted Jon Gruden’s resignation as Head Coach of the Las Vegas Raiders.”

While Gruden was

The Raiders had a 22-31 record in three-plus seasons under Gruden, ranking 22nd in winning percentage, last in points allowed and 24th in scoring as his poor personnel moves ultimately sabotaged his coaching record.

The revelations of the emails also brought shame to an organization that prides itself on a history of inclusion which includes refusing to play an exhibition game in the segregated South of the 1960s; the hiring of the second coach of Mexican descent in Tom Flores; and the first Black coach in the modern NFL in Art Shell.

That wasn't what Davis signed up for after pining for Gruden ever since taking over the Raiders following the death of his father, Hall of Fame owner Al Davis, in 2011. Mark Davis made several trips to Tampa, Florida, to meet with Gruden over the years to get his opinions on the Raiders and gauge his interest in leaving the broadcast booth to return to the sideline.

He finally got the answer he wanted in 2017, leading Davis to fire Jack Del Rio — who led the Raiders to their only playoff berth in the past 18 seasons in 2016 and the only Raiders coach with a winning record since Gruden was traded to Tampa Bay following the 2001 season after turning the Raiders into a contender.

But Gruden's second tenure never matched the first, when he was the hot-shot offensive guru with the “Chucky” persona who took the Raiders to the AFC title game in his third season and the playoffs again the following year, when they lost in the “Tuck Rule” game at New England.

Gruden was traded to Tampa Bay after that season for a boatload of draft picks and cash, then beat the Raiders in the Super Bowl his first season in 2002.

But he never won another playoff game in 10 seasons as a coach and was unable to turn the Raiders into a contender in his second stint.

Armed with a 10-year contract and total control of personnel, Gruden opted to overhaul the roster rather than retool it with the Raiders only a year removed from a 12-win season.

He traded away the team's best player, edge rusher Khalil Mack, before the start of his first season for a package that included two first-round draft picks. He then dealt star receiver Amari Cooper for another first-round pick midway through the season as the Raiders stumbled to a 4-12 record.

The following offseason ultimately defined Gruden's second tenure as he made a failed push to contend in the Raiders' final season in Oakland. He handed out big free agent contracts to Trent Brown, Lamarcus Joyner and Tyrell Williams, and got little production out of the three. His flashiest move was a trade for temperamental receiver Antonio Brown, whose erratic behavior led to his release before even playing a game.

Gruden also failed to hit on the three first-round picks expected to provide the foundation for the franchise's future. No. 4 overall pick Clelin Ferrell is relegated to backup duty this season, while No. 24 pick Josh Jacobs and No. 27 selection Johnathan Abram have yet to make a big impact.

That led to a 7-9 season in 2019 as Gruden couldn't deliver success to the fans in Oakland who never stopped adoring him even after he left the first time.

There were a few signs of progress in the first season in Las Vegas as quarterback Derek Carr took a big step in his third year with Gruden and the offense was one of the better ones in the league. But Gruden's decision to hire Paul Guenther as defensive coordinator and the poor moves in free agency and the draft left the Raiders with one of the worst defenses in the NFL — and three games out of a playoff berth at 8-8.

Gruden played whack-a-mole this offseason, trading away three veteran offensive linemen to create salary cap room to help build up the defense under new coordinator Gus Bradley.

Those decisions looked promising during a 3-0 start, but the poor offensive line play led to back-to-back double-digit losses in Gruden's final two games. Now come questions whether interim coach Rich Bisaccia can get the team back on track.

If he's successful, Gruden's time with the Raiders won't be for naught. If not, it will be little different than the nine others coaches who ran the team between Gruden's tenures when the Raiders were typically near the bottom of the standings each year. Though this coaching stint ended in even uglier fashion.

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