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Jon Gruden vows to refuse Raiders' money 'if I can't get it done'

Jason Owens
Staff writer

Jon Gruden agreed to leave the broadcast booth to coach the Oakland Raiders in January to the reported tune of $100 million over 10 years.

How much of that money is guaranteed has not been reported, but if it’s anything like the contracts of other coaches, it’s likely a lot better deal than those of players not named Kirk Cousins.

Jon Gruden says he’ll pass on payday if Raiders tenure fails

Gruden says he won’t take that money in the event things don’t work out. Gruden insisted in an interview with USA Today that he won’t accept money from the Raiders in the case of a failed second stint in Oakland.

“If I can’t get it done, I’m not going to take their money,” Gruden told USA Today Tuesday.

That sounds like something Gruden could come to regret saying in a few years. We’re not predicting a Gruden failure here. But he does bring a lot of unknowns to one of the highest-profile coaching transactions in recent NFL history.

Even if he succeeds, go ahead and name all the NFL coaches who have spent 10 consecutive years with the same team. It won’t take long.

Jon Gruden said on Tuesday that he’ll decline payment on his reported 10-year, $100 million deal with the Raiders if his tenure is a failure. (AP)
Jon Gruden said on Tuesday that he’ll decline payment on his reported 10-year, $100 million deal with the Raiders if his tenure is a failure. (AP)

Raiders likely on hook for big payout regardless of Gruden’s success

If the game has passed Gruden by and he gets fired after three seasons, the Raiders will still likely owe him a significant amount of money. It’s a lucrative perk for coaches whose salaries don’t count against the cap that surely drives Le’Veon Bell nuts.

Gruden quipped in his introductory press conference that “I don’t have a guarantee to be alive for 10 years.”

It’s a stance he reiterated with USA Today Tuesday.

“Who guarantees I’m going to live 10 years?” the 54-year-old coach said. “So I don’t think about that. You start thinking about a 10-year contract – people don’t know how it’s structured, and it doesn’t matter.”

It’s a morbid approach, but we’ll bite. If Gruden’s contract outlives Gruden, then sure. The Raiders likely won’t be on the hook for the deal.

As for Gruden otherwise turning down tens of millions in guaranteed money? We’ll believe it when we see it.

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