Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid has explained why former Las Vegas Raiders coach Jon Gruden was at his team’s practice over the weekend.
Gruden returned to the NFL ahead of the 2023 season, taking a job as an advisor with the New Orleans Saints. He was specifically hired to help onboard quarterback Derek Carr, who played for him in Vegas.
The Saints considered keeping him on as a coach, but it doesn’t appear that they were sold on the idea, and he remains without a post in the league.
Gruden surprisingly showed up at Chiefs training camp this Sunday, donning team gear as he spent time with Reid while the players practiced. Of course, it got people talking, with many suggesting he may have been hired by the two-time defending Super Bowl champions, given that the two men worked together with the Green Bay Packers in the early 1990s.
Former Raiders head coach Jon Gruden back out at Chiefs practice today, watching the d-line pic.twitter.com/3I5F2ecoqT
— KC Sports Network (@KCSportsNetwork) August 5, 2024
Were Andy Reid & Jon Gruden Just Hanging?
It doesn’t appear that the above will be the case, as Andy Reid has implied that Jon Gruden was simply hanging out with him.
“He loves football. He and I go way back 30 years, so we’ve known each other for a long time. So it’s good to get him up here,” the Chiefs HC said, per Chiefswire.
“He’s always had good input on things. He’s very smart. He’s a great football coach.”
The Chiefs aren’t wanting for anything at the moment, although they could do without Rashee Rice’s legal problems. But they’re clearly the best team in the NFL and have been for the past two years.
Adding Gruden to their staff would definitely attract unwanted attention, which they’re keen to avoid given the rocky offseason they’ve had with their parade, Rice, the Harrison Butker situation, and various other players getting arrested.
