Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports writes that Redskins owner Dan Snyder’s decision to pursue former NFL head coaches Todd Bowles and Gregg Williams to run the Redskins’ defense in recent weeks may not bode well for Jay Gruden’s future in Washington beyond the 2020 season.
According to La Canfora Snyder flew Bowles to the team’s facility and made a concerted attempt to convince him to take over the team’s defense, despite the fact that they had yet to fire DC Greg Manusky. Sources have told La Canfora that the two parties did not open contract talks during the visit, but Snyder was the one leading the push, not Gruden.
La Canfora adds that Synder made it clear he would compensate Bowles as well as any coordinator in the NFL and was also willing to alter his personnel structure within football operations if he was interested in taking the job.
“Dan put the full-court press on (Bowles)” a source with knowledge of the situation tells La Canfora. “He didn’t want to let him leave. He wanted to know what conditions it would take to get him to stay. If Todd had said, ‘I’ll only do it if I am the head coach,’ I think he may have gone for it.”
In the end, Bowles elected to join Bruce Arians in Tampa Bay.
However, the Redskins later reached out to Williams, who happens to have a strong relationship with Snyder. Washington never set up a meeting with Williams before he agreed to a deal with the Jets.
La Canfora adds that the presence of Bruce Allen has been a detriment to landing coaches, even though there has been buzz about Allen focusing strictly on the business side of the organization.
After the season, Gruden admitted that he wasn’t sure about his status with the team and he not heard from Allen or Snyder.
“I’m just waiting by the phone,” Gruden said. “And when I get the call, I’ll go.”
The team would later announce that Gruden was returning for the 2019 season.
Gruden, 51, began his NFL coaching career with the Buccaneers as an offensive assistant. He spent seven years in the position before departing for a job with the Florida Tuskers.
Gruden returned to the NFL as the Bengals offensive coordinator in 2011 before he was hired as the Redskins coach for the 2014 season.
During his five years in Washington, Gruden has led them to a record of 35-44-1 (44.4 percent), which includes one playoff appearance back in 2015.
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