(610 Sports) -- Prior to rejoining the then Oakland Raiders as head coach in 2018, Jon Gruden hadn't coached in the NFL since 2008, and according to former Raiders and Hall of Fame wide receiver Tim Brown, while appearing on Zach Brook's "Upon Further Review" podcast, it was shocking to learn that Gruden was rejoining the silver & black.
"I had tried to get him to take the Notre Dame job, before they brought (Brian) Kelly in years ago. He told me "Man, if I go to a kid's house and they tell me they don't want to come play for me, that would crush me," Brown remembers from a conversation with his former head coach.
"He told me, there's a couple things that he can't change about the NFL... He can't change the referees and he can't change the media. Because of those two things, it would be tough to go back," Brown recalls. "So I was shocked, I was really shocked to see him back in silver & black"
Asked if he thinks Gruden wishes Patrick Mahomes was in another division, Brown was quick to brush that notion aside, noting Gruden's love of a challenge.
"I don't," said Brown. "I think he loves the challenge, man, I think he loves the challenge, you know. The fact that they went to Kansas City and beat 'em, really should have beat them in Vegas this year, I think he loves that challenge. I think he's calling his best football games against Kansas City, he did last year anyway."
Brown called on his past experiences of playing under Gruden in Oakland from 1998-2001 and again in Tampa Bay in 2004, to further his belief that Gruden loves the competition of playing against Mahomes and company. "We played against John Elway, bro. When you go up against the best and you beat the best, you know you're ready for the rest of the league."