Jon Gruden was unveiled Tuesday as the new coach of the Oakland Raiders, the same club where he made his debut as an NFL head coach 20 years ago.
Gruden was lured from the ESPN television commentary booth to return to the sidelines for Oakland when Raiders owner offered a deal reportedly the richest and longest in NFL history for any coach at 10 years for $100 million.
Gruden said that his deal might inspire some rivals.
“I know there’s a big bull’s-eye on my chest certainly. If people want to use that as incentive, so be it,” Gruden said. “I’ve dealt with pressure before. I really don’t feel pressure.”
Gruden coached the Raiders from 1998 to 2001 and was then traded to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in a unique 2002 deal that saw him replace the fired Tony Dungy. He went on the guide the Bucs over the Raiders in the 2003 Super Bowl. “This is very emotional for me,” said Gruden, who has been out of the NFL since coaching his seventh and final season with Tampa Bay in 2008.
“I never wanted to leave the Raiders. I never thought I’d be back, but here I am and I’m ready to get to work.”
Gruden went 38-26 in regular-season games as coach of the Raiders, guiding the team to two playoff berths.
Gruden admitted he has some “unfinished” business with the Raiders, with his final game at Oakland among the NFL’s most controversial losses – the Raiders falling to New England on the infamous Tom Brady “Tuck Rule” non-fumble call.
“For my career to end on that night in New England, it still ticks me off,” Gruden said. “I’m so thrilled to be back here. I feel a lot of loyalty and I feel a lot of responsibility.... I’m going to do everything I can to help this team get right again.”
Gruden, 95-81 in 11 regular seasons as an NFL coaches, replaced Jack Del Rio, who was fired following a season-ending loss to the Los Angeles Chargers that capped a disappointing 6-10 campaign.
“I want to help deliver the best football team we can here for the people in Oakland,” Gruden said. “How long I say here will be determined by how well we play.
“I love to win and I’m going to do everything I can,” Gruden said. “No guarantees, no promises, but I want to win.”

Alabama’s Saban ‘covets’ Giants job
Former Arizona Cardinals coach Bruce Arians sparked Nick Saban-to-the-NFL rumors when he said the legendary Alabama coach “covets” the New York Giants coaching job.
Less than 24 hours after the Crimson Tide came back from a 13-point second-half deficit to stun Georgia 26-23 in overtime in the College Football Playoff National Championship on Monday night, Saban’s name has surfaced again for job openings around the NFL Arians, who retired after the 2017 season, told Colin Cowherd on FS1 that he wouldn’t be surprised if Saban is interested in returning to the NFL on one condition.
“It would not surprise me,” Arians said Tuesday of Saban’s potential NFL interest. “And there’s a job he covets that happens to be open. But he’s got a dynasty right now and another dynamite recruiting class. Why he would do it, I don’t know. But it would not shock me if he did.”
Arians clarified the job in question was with the Giants and he was asked why the 66-year-old Saban would leave Alabama for New York.
“Because they’re the New York Giants. When we grew up, they were the thing,” Arians said.
The speculation from Arians was quickly shot down by multiple outlets and that Saban has “zero interest” in the Giants job.