Saints Tapped Jon Gruden as Coaching Consultant to Aid Derek Carr, per Report

The former head coach reportedly is helping his former quarterback transition to a new team.

Former NFL head coach Jon Gruden worked with Saints offensive coaches and quarterback Derek Carr this week, Jeff Duncan of NOLA.com reports.

Gruden and Carr worked together with the Raiders for parts of four seasons from 2018 to ’21. Gruden resigned from his role as Raiders head coach after five games in 2021 amid the release of a report by The New York Times that showed he used misogynistic, racist and anti-LGBTQ language in a series of emails.

Carr signed with New Orleans this offseason after nine seasons with the Raiders, and the Saints reportedly brought in Gruden to help smooth Carr’s transition between the teams. Former Saints head coach Sean Payton and Gruden worked together with the Eagles in the 1990s, and Payton’s offense is still used in New Orleans even though he is no longer with the team.

In three full seasons under Gruden, Carr surpassed 4,000 passing yards each season and totaled 67 touchdowns and 27 interceptions. The veteran is entering the first year of a four-year, $150 million deal with the Saints.

Besides Gruden, New Orleans also signed former Raiders pass-catchers Bryan Edwards and Foster Moreau, in part due to their familiarity with Carr. 

While Gruden is currently out of the league, despite his desire for another shot to run a team, he did sue the league after resigning from the Raiders. That case is still ongoing.