Jon Gruden’s Tough Love Is Turning the Raiders Around

In 2018, the Oakland Raiders hired head coach Jon Gruden and provided him with an enormous 10-year, $100 million contract. Raider Nation was optimistic, hoping that Gruden – who had coached the team from 1998 to 2001 – could revive a franchise that had become a shadow of its former self.

Gruden was famously dubbed “Chucky” after his intimidating scowl, and his hiring certainly brought a renewed intensity to the team. Eighteen months later, the Raiders have gone 7-9 and 5-11 in their first two seasons under Gruden, but the future looks a lot brighter – and a lot of it has to do with Gruden’s tough love approach to coaching.

Gruden’s Coaching Philosophy

Gruden is an old-school coach with a firm belief in developing a strong work ethic, a fundamental understanding of the game, and a “play hard and play smart” mantra. As he has said in various press conferences:

“I believe the best way to build a team is to teach the game of football. You can’t rely on schemes and gimmicks to win.”

One of the most notable changes Gruden implemented upon arriving in Oakland was the introduction of film study. Every Wednesday, players have to come into the facility, gather in the film room, and watch cut-ups and breakdowns of their mistakes from the previous game. It’s a tough and demanding process, but it’s one that Gruden believes is necessary to create a competitive team.

Gruden’s Impact on the Raiders

Of course, this philosophy has yet to be fully realized in terms of wins and losses, but Gruden’s methods are clearly having an impact on the team. His strong emphasis on developing technique and individual skills has helped the Raiders build a foundation that should lead to success in the future.

Gruden’s players also appear to have benefited from Gruden’s tough love approach. Quarterback Derek Carr, for example, was booed by the fans in 2017 and 2018 – but in 2019, he was nearly universally applauded. This is largely a result of his level of commitment to the team, something that was clearly instilled in him by Gruden’s tireless work ethic.

Conclusion

Jon Gruden’s ‘tough love’ approach to coaching has yet to be fully realized by the Raiders in terms of wins and losses, but it is already having an impact on the team. By introducing strict rules and demanding discipline, Gruden has created a learning environment that is conducive to success. In time, these methods will likely lead to greater success on the field – and perhaps even a championship.