Oakland Raiders head coach Jon Gruden put himself on a pressure-packed position after vowing to return his salary if he can't get it done.
Gruden made headlines earlier this year after inking a luxurious 10-year deal to the tune of $100 million with the Raiders. His $100 million deal with Oakland also marks the richest contract for any coach in the checkered history of the league.
"If I can't get it done, I'm not going to take their money," Gruden said.
The 54-year-old Gruden is no stranger to coaching in the National Football League as he once mentored the Raiders before leading the Tampa Bay Buccaneers into winning the Super Bowl. Gruden then worked as a host for ESPN's Monday Night Football for nine years.
However, Gruden did not exactly define what "get it done" meant. The former Buccaneer mentor added that he is not concentrating on the length of his deal with the Raiders.
Gruden To Bring Back Old School Football
During the offseason, the Raiders made some interesting moves by signing older players such as Jordy Nelson, Derrick Johnson, and Doug Martin. Gruden said that he is confident with their new additions this offseason, citing that he has more things to worry about than the eight years of his contract.
Among those things include the possibility of Khalil Mack leaving the team after next season. The centerpiece edge rusher who is on the final year of his contract is set to receive $13.846 million on the option year of his rookie deal.
According to multiple sources, Mack is expected to ask the Raiders for a new deal that will likely be in the range of $19 million. Gruden is still uncertain on whether Mack will report to training camp, saying that he hasn't talked to the latter a lot.
Gruden Not Worried With High Expectations
In addition, Gruden said that he is not worried about the high expectations that are put toward them, saying that a lot of coaches that he's friends with are thrilled with the Raiders offseason. At present, general manager Reggie McKenzie is in talks with Mack's agent, Joel Segal, and Tom Delaney who is the director of football administration.
"Expectations, bullseye, whatever," Gruden said. "When you start to think about the magnitude of all that, it's like the open for Monday Night Football. It's great to talk about. But that's a story for (sideline reporter) Lisa Salters to do," Gruden said.
Yahoo Sports' Jason Owens said that Gruden brings a lot of unknowns to one of the most well-known coaching deals in league history. Nonetheless, Owens explained that the Raiders would owe Gruden a significant amount of money regardless of the coach's success with the team.
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