Bill Williamson, ESPN Staff Writer 9y

What would it take to bring back Jon Gruden to Raiders?

The Oakland Raiders head coaching job comes up a lot. It's the eighth time it has been open since 2002, the year the Raiders traded Jon Gruden to Tampa Bay.

And as usual, Gruden's name has surfaced to fill this vacancy.

Many in the Bay Area would like to see Gruden return. Gruden clearly would be the top choice of the franchise and the fan base. The Raiders haven’t been the same since he was traded to the Buccaneers.

Gruden, who is a “Monday Night Football” analyst for ESPN, is still a mythical figure to the Raiders’ fan base. The Raiders have reportedly talked to him in the past.

Still, for Gruden to come back to the Raiders, a lot of things would have to happen. He’d likely need to have a lot of power and be able to bring in his own personnel guys. It would probably mean the end of the Reggie McKenzie era in Oakland, which could happen anyway.

If Gruden truly wants to coach again, he will have his choices. So, the Raiders would have to come with more than just the benefit of having control of personnel. It will take a huge salary and the ability to win quickly would likely be a big part of his decision.

The Raiders’ stadium issues are also at the forefront. They have to be considered a prime candidate to move to Los Angeles. If the Raiders moved to L.A., with a new stadium secured, they could become very attractive to Gruden or any top coach.

Gruden loves his quarterbacks, and the presence of Derek Carr, who met with Gruden at his pre-draft camp this year, could be intriguing.

Intriguing is the key word when it comes to a possible Gruden-Raiders reunion. Oakland owner Mark Davis will more than likely consider it, but making it happen will take a lot of things falling the right way. Until that happens, this is just another pipe dream for Raider Nation.

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