The New Orleans Saints are considering hiring former Las Vegas Raiders head coach Jon Gruden as a member of their staff, sources told Jeff Duncan of NOLA.com.
The interest between the two sides is mutual so long as Gruden does not fetch a head coaching offer this offseason, Duncan adds. However, Gruden would likely not replace offensive coordinator Pete Carmichael.
Gruden reportedly attended a team meeting prior to the Week 17 game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and met with officials, including general manager Mickey Loomis.
It’s not the first time the former Super Bowl champion coach has been around the Saints. Gruden visited the team in May 2023 to help with the transition to Derek Carr under center. Carr and Gruden spent three-plus years together with the Raiders.
Gruden resigned as the Raiders’ head coach during the 2021 season after leaked reports showed that he sent emails using racist, homophobic, and misogynistic language while working as an ESPN football analyst from 2009-17. He then sued the NFL and commissioner Roger Goodell, claiming that the leaks ruined his career.
The Saints went 9-8 in 2023 but missed the playoffs for the third straight year
