NFL rumors are as common as cold weather in the month of December, but this season, a few old NFL names are leading the charge.
Jon Gruden rumors have always been a hot topic the last few years. However, after inking a long-term deal with ESPN back in December of 2014, the whispering had slowed down quite a bit, but now the rumors are flaring up again.
According to a CBS Sports report, Gruden is seriously contemplating a comeback to the sidelines with the L.A. Rams. Following the news of Jeff Fisher being released from the Rams, the rumors about who would take over started like wildfire. The two biggest names being Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh and former Buccaneers and Raiders front man and current ESPN analyst Jon Gruden.
Gruden has always nixed rumors about a return to coaching, but reports indicate that “those close to Gruden have indicated he would listen to a Rams pitch.”
Gruden’s contract with ESPN is a deal that would take him through the 2021 season, but the former Super Bowl winning coach might have the itch to once again take over on the sidelines? The man nicknamed by many as “Chucky” still seems to have the passion to coach, and he would instantly be a hit in Los Angeles with the fans, that’s for sure.
Another hot name currently going around the NFL rumor mill is New England Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels.
The L.A. Times have reported that the Jags might have an interest in McDaniels taking over in 2017. McDaniels may also be on the Rams list as well.
“Jacksonville Jaguars general manager Dave Caldwell is believed to be interested in McDaniels, so the Rams’ being on the hunt for a coach could impact how the Jaguars deal with Coach Gus Bradley, who is 14-47 in nearly four seasons.”
McDaniels was the head coach for the Denver Broncos back in 2009 and 2010. He was let go after 12 games of the 2010 season following a dismal 3-9 start. McDaniels finished with an 11-17 record. The experience that McDaniels got under his belt back in 2009 might have helped out his cause for landing another head job in 2017, especially with his success under Bill Belichick as the Patriots offensive coordinator.
If McDaniels doesn’t land in Jacksonville, other teams will surely come knocking. Possibly the Bills or Jets?
Last, but not least, is Jim Harbaugh.
The rumors about the Michigan coach will only heat up the colder the weather gets, no matter how many people say he isn’t leaving U of M.
Well, according to Land of 10 , Harbaugh has no intention of leaving his Alma mater.
It seems Harbaugh is perfectly content in Ann Arbor, and for people who know him, along with Michigan fans, that is no surprise. Harbaugh is getting paid a great salary with Michigan, and his passion to win a national championship runs deep.
So deep, even the Michigan players don’t believe a word of this rumor hype. DL Chase Winovich did what all people do nowadays when they want to be heard, and he took to Twitter!
“You clearly don’t understand our head ball coach if you think he can be bought out like that,” Winovich tweeted. “He’s not going anywhere-we wouldn’t let him lol.”
Winovich was reportedly responding to an earlier tweet from Pro Football Talk indicating that Harbaugh could fetch up to $15 million per year with the Rams or another NFL team.
There’s surely a number somewhere between $10 million and $15 million per year that gets @CoachJim4UM to the @RamsNFL .
— ProFootballTalk (@ProFootballTalk) December 12, 2016
While no one knows what coach Harbaugh will truly do except Harbaugh himself, it is pretty safe to say that he isn’t even thinking about heading back to the NFL.
[Featured Image by Lisa Blumenfeld/Getty Images]