Jon Gruden still won’t budge.
His broadcast partner Sean McDonough opened ESPN’s Chiefs-Titans playoff broadcast Saturday by thanking Gruden for his services to Monday Night Football and congratulating him on becoming the Raiders’ next head coach.
“Well, thank you.” Gruden said. “Nothing’s official yet, but these Chiefs fans have been on my case since we got here.”
McDonough brought up Gruden leaving the broadcast booth three times before the first quarter ended, and each time Gruden awkwardly laughed and deflected. Technically, nothing is official until Gruden signs his $10-year, $100 million contract.
That contract is the most expensive and matches the longest in NFL coaching history. The Dallas Cowboys gave 10-year deals to both Tom Landry and Jimmy Johnson.
Host Suzy Kolber offered her farewell to Gruden during the pregame show, during which McDonough and Gruden also highlighted the Chiefs’ foursome of Alex Smith, Kareem Hunt, Tyreek Hill and Travis Kelce.
“It’s gonna be a big task for those coaches in the AFC West next year to deal with this bunch,” McDonough joked, to which Gruden laughed but didn’t say anything.
Just before halftime with the Chiefs up two scores, McDonough mentioned Gruden having to travel to Arrowhead next season.
“This is no place right now to talk about the Raiders, is it?” Gruden said.
The former Oakland head coach will be introduced on Tuesday, a little over two weeks after owner Mark Davis fired Jack Del Rio after the Raiders’ 30-10 loss to the Chargers. Gruden began his head-coaching career in Oakland 20 years ago Monday, leading the Raiders for four seasons before spending seven as the Buccaneers’ head coach. He is the second-youngest head coach to win a Super Bowl in NFL history, winning a ring at age 39 in his first season with Tampa Bay.
Despite several changes coming on Oakland’s coaching staff, ESPN reported general manager Reggie McKenzie will remain with the team. Common assumption would be, because of how badly Davis wanted Gruden, that McKenzie will be marginalized in some aspects.
The Raiders haven’t yet confirmed Gruden’s hiring, though an official release shouldn’t come too far after the conclusion of Saturday’s game once Gruden puts pen to paper.
