Inside Jon Gruden’s disastrous second run with the Raiders

Key Points:

• Mark Davis pursued Jon Gruden for six years to revive the Raiders, ultimately giving him a 10-year, $100 million contract in 2018, hoping Gruden would restore the franchise's former glory.
• Gruden's tenure was marked by erratic personnel decisions, including trading key players like Khalil Mack and Amari Cooper, reliance on aging veterans, and undermining scouting efforts with "kill tapes" targeting prospects.
• The Raiders suffered from organizational dysfunction, with conflicting draft boards between coaches and scouts, poor draft picks, and a lack of respect for the general manager role, leading to a depleted roster and inconsistent performance.
• Gruden resigned in 2021 after a scandal involving racist and misogynistic emails, and subsequent leadership changes failed to stabilize the team, although recent moves, including acquiring top draft prospects and involving Tom Brady in decision-making, have sparked renewed optimism.
• Despite ongoing challenges, the Raiders hope new coach Klint Kubiak, GM John Spytek, and high-profile minority owner Tom Brady can guide the franchise to sustained success, learning from past missteps under Davis and Gruden.