Apr 28, 2011; New York, NY, USA; ESPN analyst Jon Gruden during the 2011 NFL Draft at Radio City Music Hall. Mandatory Credit: Howard Smith-USA TODAY Sports
We saw numerous head coaches lose their job on the Monday after Week 17 concluded. Apparently former coach Dick Vermeil has been playing a part in getting numerous fired coaches new jobs. Vermeil was a former coach with both the Philadelphia Eagles and the Kansas City Chiefs as well as the St. Louis Rams.
Vermeil is also good friends with former Eagles coach Andy Reid and supposedly played a part in getting him hired by another one of his former teams according to the website Philly.com.
Well having helped ousted Eagles coach Andy Reid find a new job, it seems like Vermeil is playing match maker again by suggesting a candidate for the vacant Eagles position.
“My choice would be Jon Gruden,” Vermeil told Anthony Gargano and Glen Macnow of WIP radio, via Philly.com. “I just think he’s a helluva of football coach, and I don’t want him to make the mistake I made, to wait too long to go back. I just think he’s a helluva football coach and a great personality.”
Jon Gruden currently works on ESPN’s Monday Night Football crew and won a Superbowl as head coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
ESPN analyst Ron Jaworski, who was also Dick Vermeil’s quarterback during his Superbowl run with the Eagles, is supporting his former coach.
“I would want a guy that is a proven winning Super Bowl coach,” Jaworski said on 97.5 The Fanatic, via Philly.com.
But if they can’t go with Gruden, Jaws thinks a in-state rivals’ former coach would be a good second choice, Bill Cowher.
Dick Vermeil said he thinks the Eagles should do more than just reach out to Gruden to gauge his interest, he thinks that Gruden is the man and he shouldn’t take no for an answer.
“I’d do more than ask,” Vermeil said. “You know what I’d do? I’d get in a bus and take the bank with me.”
Gruden brings experience and certain pedigree, something that could be invaluable to an NFL franchise looking to rebound in a tough division.
“There’s no substitute for experienced people, you know, to really take it now to the next level quickly,” Vermeil said.
Originally it was rumored that the Eagles were trying to gauge Chip Kelly’s interest in a move to the NFL. Some consider college coaches and unproven assistants as “second-tier” candidates.
“I lump all these candidates now into one box right now. There’s a lot of guys who were assistant coaches that haven’t proven themselves,” Jaworski said.
“The most important thing is that the Eagles get it right. … I don’t care how long it takes,” Jaws said.