With the offseason quickly approaching for the Los Angeles Rams, the rumor mill has already begun to rapidly rotate. The Rams cast a huge line and have already been linked to a number of high-profile coaching candidates after firing head coach Jeff Fisher.
Among the names is former Super Bowl-winning head coach Jon Gruden, who Los Angeles reportedly made the ‘focal point’ of their coaching search. However, Gruden informed ESPN’s Mike and Mike he has no intention of returning to the sidelines in the near future:
“You know, Mike, I love football, and I’ve said that a million times. I just want to say that I’m very happy doing what I’m doing. My full attention and focus is on the Cowboys-Lions, I cannot wait for our final Monday night game. There’s a lot of chips on the table,” Gruden said. “But right now I have no intention of coaching. I really enjoy what I’m doing and I feel like I’m really close to the fire and I’m getting plenty of satisfaction out of doing what I’m doing.”
Now before Gruden is completely ruled out, it should be noted that he may have possibly been sticking to the same old cut-and-dry script given the timing of the situation. However, his current role with ESPN gives him the opportunity to remain closely involved with the game, without any of the pressure that comes along with being a head coach.
Then again, if Gruden truly was looking for another opportunity to get back into the NFL, he would be hard-pressed to find a better landing spot than the one that is in Los Angeles. With a number of up-and-coming assistants looking to take the next step to head honcho this offseason, Gruden will need to make his choice quickly.
