Bengals offensive coordinator Jay Gruden interviewed with the Cardinals Thursday, and said he might be visiting with the Eagles next week.
You’ve got to respect the casual approach the younger Gruden has taken to the interview process, after admitting his plan is to stay with the Bengals.
“They just want to hear your philosophy about things, and you give it to them. They want to see your personality, what kind of passion you have, and all those good things,” Gruden told reporters in Arizona, via Joe Reedy of the Cincinnati Enquirer. “Whatever coach they bring in here to sit up in this chair, they’re going to say the same things; we’re going to turn this around the best way we can. It’s their job just to pick which one they think can do that the best, and hopefully they’ll make the right decision, whoever it is. It’s a great franchise.”
Gruden said his experience in the Arena League and the UFL helped him become familiar with the organizational aspects of being a head coach. And he admitted that he turned down chances to interview for head coaching jobs last year, saying: “I didn’t want to jump ship after the first phone call.”
“I wanted to go in there and see Andy Dalton and A.J. Green progress another year and see what we could do,” he said. “It’s a great situation up in Cincinnati. I still feel like we underachieved a little bit on offense. We have to do a lot better up there. But, to even be thought of as a head coach candidate is a great honor, and I appreciate the Bidwills taking a chance.”
If nothing else, his demeanor doesn’t seem to match his brother’s, and he won’t likely be pushing Jon out of the television booth anytime soon.