Reports: Gruden to Take Raider Job

Philadelphia Eagle offensive coordinator Jon Gruden was in Oakland Monday night to accept the head coaching position with the Raiders, according to broadcast reports.

Gruden was scheduled to meet for the second time with Raider owner Al Davis today to iron out contract details and take the job that became open with the firing of Joe Bugel, according to the reports.

Gruden interviewed with the Raiders on Jan. 8. He also talked to Davis twice last year before the job went to Bugel, the team’s offensive coordinator who reportedly was favored among the players. Bugel was fired after a 4-12 season that was the club’s worst since 1962.

The Raiders also interviewed former coach Art Shell, who had 56-41 record with the team from 1989 to 1994, and New York Jet defensive coordinator Bill Belichick.

Gruden, 34, became the NFL’s youngest offensive coordinator when he was hired by Eagle Coach Ray Rhodes in 1995.

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For a change, the Pittsburgh Steelers won’t lose a key free agent. Tom Donahoe will stay on as their director of football operations.

Donahoe, whose astute personnel moves have helped the Steelers remain a playoff-caliber team despite an annual emigration of players, said he had pulled his name from consideration to become Seattle Seahawk general manager.

The Seahawks previously raided the Steelers for linebacker Chad Brown and cornerback Willie Williams, and they reportedly were willing to offer Donahoe five times his estimated salary of $200,000 in Pittsburgh.

But Donahoe said his first preference was always to stay with the Steelers, for whom he first worked as a ballboy in high school, and that money was never a factor in his decision.

“This is what I’ve always wanted to do, this is where I’ve always wanted to be,” Donahoe said.

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New Indianapolis Colt Coach Jim Mora announced nine members of his coaching staff, including two assistants to former coach Lindy Infante.

Mora said Greg Blache (defensive line) and Gene Huey (running backs) were retained.

Tom Moore, an NFL assistant since 1977, will be the offensive coordinator. He was running backs coach at New Orleans last season. Rusty Tillman, the Oakland Raiders’ special teams coach the past two years, will be defensive coordinator.

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Raider guard Steve Wisniewski was named to the AFC Pro Bowl team as a replacement for Tennessee Oiler guard Bruce Matthews, who will sit out the game because of a knee injury.