Gruden tells paper: ‘I hope I’m a candidate’ for Raiders job

FILE - In this Sunday Nov. 4, 2007 file photo, Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Jon Gruden, right, leaves the field after an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals in Tampa, Fla. Jon Gruden says he hopes he's a candidate to return for a second stint as coach of the Oakland Raiders and believes a final decision will be made next week. Gruden made his most specific comments about the opening in Oakland created when the Raiders fired Jack Del Rio following a disappointing six-win season in an interview Tuesday, Jan. 2, 2018 with the Bay Area News Group. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara, File)

FILE – In this Sunday Nov. 4, 2007 file photo, Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Jon Gruden, right, leaves the field after an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals in Tampa, Fla. Jon Gruden says he hopes he’s a candidate to return for a second stint as coach of the Oakland Raiders and believes a final decision will be made next week. Gruden made his most specific comments about the opening in Oakland created when the Raiders fired Jack Del Rio following a disappointing six-win season in an interview Tuesday, Jan. 2, 2018 with the Bay Area News Group. (AP Photo/Chris O’Meara, File)

ALAMEDA, Calif. – Jon Gruden says he hopes he’s a candidate to return for a second stint as coach of the Oakland Raiders and believes a final decision will be made next week.

Gruden made his most specific comments in an interview Tuesday with the Bay Area News Group about the opening in Oakland created when the Raiders fired Jack Del Rio following a disappointing six-win season.

Gruden said that he understands interviews will be conducted this week. When asked if he was a candidate he responded: “Well, I think I am being considered, yes. I hope I’m a candidate_”

The Raiders are not commenting on the search beyond a statement issued Sunday night from owner Mark Davis thanking Del Rio for his tenure.