Bills Targeted Jon Gruden
ESPN Analyst staying on TV
Updated: Friday, 20 Nov 2009, 10:28 PM EST
Published : Friday, 20 Nov 2009, 10:28 PM ESTBUFFALO (WIVB) - Jon Gruden as the Bills new head coach? If Ralph Wilson had his way, it would have happened. Sources tell News 4 Sports that Gruden was the top choice of the Bills to replace Dick Jauron.
Those sources say the team "went after him hard," including a face-to-face meeting, but could not convince Gruden to leave his job as analyst on ESPN's Monday Night Football.
Monday, Gruden agreed to a contract extension with the network. That has dampened some of the talk about his return to coaching in either the NFL or college football.
As coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Gruden won Super Bowl XXXVII. He also coached the Oakland Raiders.
Along with reports of interest in Mike Shanahan, it appears that the Bills are aiming high in their coaching search. Gruden and Shanahan are two of the six Super Bowl-winning coaches that are not currently working.
News 4 Sports reported Thursday that the Bills offered Jauron the chance to remain as the head coach for the rest of the season. He declined. The benefit for the Bills is that they can now openly pursue other coaching candidates.
Comment