Jay Gruden loses out on Panthers OC job to former Giants rival

The Washington Football Team thankfully won’t have a say in this offseason’s coaching carousel.

Ron Rivera will return for his third year as head coach and will presumably lead the quarterback search. To the best of our knowledge, Rivera’s top assistants Scott Turner and Jack Del Rio will return as offensive and defensive coordinator.

As of this writing, the Jaguars, Giants, Broncos, Dolphins, Vikings, Raiders and Bears are still conducting the interview process. It typically wouldn’t take this long, but some of those clubs are also looking for new general managers, and it would be franchise malpractice to hire one before the other.

Other teams in the NFL, like the Panthers, simply have coordinator openings to fill after Joe Brady was fired amid a 5-7 start.

How is Washington involved in all this? Well, former head coach Jay Gruden was being seriously considered for the opening. After impressing in his first interview, Gruden was invited back for a second, seemingly indicating he was a finalist.

Unfortunately for Gruden, he didn’t get the gig. And what makes the news sting all the more is whom he lost out to.

Does the name Ben McAdoo ring a bell?

Former Washington HC Jay Gruden won’t be the Panthers’ new offensive coordinator.

McAdoo? Seriously, Carolina? This is a tough blow for Gruden, who’s proven to be an innovative offensive mind.

Of course, Gruden was fired after an 0-5 start in 2019. His tenure in Washington ended on a sour note, but he did pretty solid work for a head coach who never got a chance to hand pick his preferred quarterback.

In five-plus seasons on the job, Gruden finished 35-49-1. Perhaps his most impressive accomplishment was the turnaround he sparked between his first and second seasons. If you remember, Gruden inherited a 3-13 roster in 2013.

While Washington only won four games in his first campaign, they made seismic strides the following year, finishing 9-7 while supplanting Dallas as the NFC East champs. However, the playoff high was short-lived, as the 11-5 Packers made light work of Gruden’s resilient group in the first round.

Gruden spent 2020 as the Jaguars’ offensive coordinator, but was left out of a job after head coach Doug Marrone was fired after a 15-1 finish.

McAdoo’s resume doesn’t exactly stand up to Gruden’s, but he clearly caught Carolina’s eye after joining the OC mix just a few days ago.

The former rivals crossed paths for just two seasons as head coaches in the NFC East — McAdoo was fired 12 games into his second year — but this shocking turn of events no doubt adds a little more steam to the rivalry for fans who were fond of Gruden’s time in Washington and wanted him to get the nod in Carolina.

Then again, could this be a blessing in disguise for Gruden?

While the Panthers have a host of talented players like Christian McCaffrey, DJ Moore, Robby Anderson and Terrace Marshall, they have a burning question at QB after Sam Darnold disappointed in 2021 after he was acquired from the Jets for a 2021 sixth-round pick and second- and third-round picks in 2022.

Doesn’t sound like an ideal landing spot. Who knows? Maybe Gruden will end up being the big winner in all this when all is said and done.