:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/48521411/usa-today-8343382.0.jpg)
UPDATE: Reports indicate Gruden is not interested in coaching the Eagles after all. Original story below.
...
Jon Gruden is interested in becoming the next head coach of the Philadelphia Eagles, according to a report from Paul Domowitch of the Daily News. No, this isn't a joke. I promise. See for yourself:
Gruden is doing his biennial return-to-coaching tire-kicking. Whether he's serious this time or just needs his ego massaged still is unclear.
But a league source told the Daily News that he has informed Lurie, through an intermediary, that he is interested in the Eagles' head-coaching job.
The source said that while Lurie likes and respects Gruden, who was the Eagles' offensive coordinator in 1997-98, he has reservations about the ESPN Monday Night Football analyst's ability/willingness to play nice with Roseman, who has returned to a seat of personnel power now that Chip Kelly is gone.
And so we've reached that point of the Eagles coaching search. The point where you thought you've just about heard everything.
Domo's report goes on to say that Gruden isn't a top candidate for the Eagles. Rather, Chiefs offensive coordinator Doug Pederson is a favorite there, with Adam Gase also strongly in the mix. The Eagles haven't had the chance to interview Pederson yet but will do so this weekend. It seems like the Eagles won't make a decision on their next head coach until some point after Pederson gets his interview.
But back to Gruden. That just doesn't seem realistic. He's been out of the league since 2008. As Reuben Frank likes to point out, Gruden is 45-51 with no playoff wins in his last six years as head coach. He does have a Super Bowl ring and he did coach in Philadelphia at one point, which are reasons why his name comes up in these coaching searches, but it's just hard to believe he's a serious candidate.