Here's what you need to know about the new Raiders coach
Can we assume that we are all caught up on Gruden Gate, that’s what I am calling it anyway. We can’t imagine a situation in which one would be unaware of the news, but just in case, this quick recap is for you.
Las Vegas Raiders head coach Jon Gruden is now former head coach Jon Gruden. The former ESPN analyst and Super Bowl winning coach called it quits last night. That hours after “The New York Times” detailed emails in which he had made homophobic and misogynistic remarks.
“I have resigned as Head Coach of the Las Vegas Raiders,” said Gruden in a statement issued by the team. “I love the Raiders and do not want to be a distraction. Thank you to all the players, coaches, staff, and fans of Raider Nation. I’m sorry, I never meant to hurt anyone.”
We could do a flurry of reporting on which former and current players said what. Who supports Gruden, who is shocked and so on. But we won’t. Instead, we are going to put our focus on the future.
Who is leading Raider Nation now? Here is what you need to know. Rich Bisaccia is now the head honcho, having been moved up from the special teams coordinator and assistant coach. Bisaccia was named as the interim head coach despite him not having held a head coaching job before. For context, Raiders coaches Tom Cable, Rod Marinelli and Gus Bradley have all been head coaches in the NFL in the past.
The 61-year old head coach is far from lacking in experience. Bisaccia started in college ball in 1983. After almost 20 years he moved from the NCAA to the NFL in 2002. His first pro job was as (wait for it) a special teams coordinator with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Coincidently, Gruden has just started with the Bucs that same year. Busaccia would stay with the Buccaneers for nine years and in that time would help the team win the Super Bowl – also coincidentally against the Oakland Raiders.
Coach Bisaccia would then spend time with the Chargers and the Cowboys. When Gruden was signed to a ten year deal with the Raiders in 2018, Bisaccia rejoined Gruden. The rest is, as they say, history.
While we wait to hear from the Las Vegas Raiders head coach, (he is scheduled to chat with the media on Wednesday) all we can do is speculate about the next game. On deck are the Denver Broncos this Sunday at 1:25 p.m.
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