Jon Gruden could return to NFL; Oakland Raiders, Atlanta Falcons top destinations?

December 9, 2012; Tampa, FL, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers former head coach Jon Gruden talks during the presentation of the 10th anniversary of the 2002 Super Bowl Champions during halftime against the Philadelphia Eagles at Raymond James Stadium. The Eagles won 23-21. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /

Things are going pretty well for Jon Gruden in the ESPN Monday Night Football booth, but Gruden has toyed with returning to coaching for a few years now – something he’s apparently doing again.

If he is to return to the field, two teams who would be seen as potential favorites are the Oakland Raiders and Atlanta Falcons – this according to Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports:

"Should former Super Bowl winning coach Jon Gruden end up leaving the broadcast booth and returning to coaching, his most likely destinations would be Oakland or Atlanta, according to league sources, should those jobs open up."

According to La Canfora, Oakland made a spirited effort to bring Gruden in prior to this year, but the two sides just couldn’t get the deal hammered out. It of course would have been Gruden’s second stop in Oakland.

In addition to the Raiders, the Falcons were mentioned as a potential landing destination as owner Arthur Blanks is ready to get a big name coach (I’m assuming Mike Smith isn’t at that level?) heading the organization as they prepare to move into their new stadium.

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