Eagles Will Interview Jay Gruden On Monday
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — One of the Gruden brothers will interview with the Philadelphia Eagles.
Just not the people's choice.
The Eagles are scheduled to meet with Bengals offensive coordinator Jay Gruden on Monday, continuing their slow search to replace Andy Reid.
Owner Jeffrey Lurie, general manager Howie Roseman and president Don Smolenski already have interviewed seven candidates since firing Reid on Dec. 31, and have permission to speak to two other coordinators.
Gruden, the younger brother of Jon Gruden, just finished his second season in Cincinnati. He previously served as an offensive assistant on his brother's staff in Tampa Bay from 2002-08. He also coached several years in the AFL, winning the Arena Bowl title twice.
Jon Gruden, currently an ESPN analyst, has been on top of the fans' wish list long before Reid was fired. He led the Buccaneers to a Super Bowl title in 2002, beating the Eagles in the NFC championship along the way.
Former Eagles coach Dick Vermeil said this week Jon Gruden would be his choice if the decision was his, but the team hasn't expressed any interest in him or former Steelers coach Bill Cowher.
The Eagles are expected to interview Indianapolis offensive coordinator Bruce Arians and Seattle defensive coordinator Gus Bradley. No dates have been set for either.
The Bengals reached the playoffs each of the last two years with Gruden and quarterback Andy Dalton, a second-round pick in 2011. Their offense finished 22nd in total yards and 12th in points this season, and 20th and 18th in those categories in 2011.
The 45-year-old Gruden served two stints as head coach of the Orlando Predators from 1998 to 2001 and from 2004 to 2008. In 2002 and 2003, he was the team's quarterback.
As a player, he was quarterback at Louisville for four seasons, then played six seasons with the Tampa Bay Storm of the AFL.
"I've been a head coach before for a while," Gruden told reporters in Arizona after interviewing with the Cardinals on Thursday. "I know it's a different league and it's not the NFL, but I've handled people and handled organization, handled salary caps, done all the things necessary to be a head coach. I understand the game and I think it would be a good fit."
The Eagles interviewed former Chicago Bears Lovie Smith on Thursday. They previously met with Atlanta assistants Mike Nolan and Keith Armstrong and Denver offensive coordinator Mike McCoy.
Notre Dame's Brian Kelly met with the Eagles on Tuesday, a day after the Fighting Irish lost 42-14 to Alabama BCS national championship game. Penn State's Bill O'Brien and Oregon's Chip Kelly interviewed with Philadelphia last week, but chose to stay at their schools.
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