Oakland Raiders News: Did Jon Gruden Hiring Lead To GM Reggie McKenzie Firing?

The Oakland Raiders (3-10) on Monday fired their first real general manager in decades. Some may see the decision to cut ties with Reggie McKenzie, who was hired in 2012 and signed a four-year extension in 2016, as part of a house cleaning after the hiring of head coach Jon Gruden in January.

McKenzie's firing was first reported by NFL Network and comes on the heels of an upset victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers (7-5-1). Not long after the news surfaced, ESPN’s Adam Schefter said this was to be expected, though most figured the Raiders would wait until the end of the season.

McKenzie, 55, was apparently given the option to stay with the team until season’s end but declined. More importantly, Schefter said it is now Gruden’s team all the way through.

"This is Jon Gruden’s show in Oakland. He’s running it the way that he wants to run it," Schefter said. "Even though he respected Reggie McKenzie, this is Gruden’s ship, and he wants to steer it."

Is it not clear if Gruden played an active role in McKenzie’s firing or if owner Mark Davis made the decision.

The Raiders were just 39-70 with one playoff appearance under McKenzie. He was hired after longtime owner Al Davis died in 2011.

McKenzie was lauded for drafting players like quarterback Derek Carr, wide receiver Amari Cooper and pass rusher Khalil Mack, which helped lift the Raiders to a 12-4 record in 2016. However, Gruden signed a 10-year contract to be Oakland’s head coach in the offseason and the team promptly started jettisoning McKenzie’s hand-picked talent.

The Raiders traded Mack and Cooper for draft picks and there had even been speculation that Carr might be dealt.

An NFL Network report in September indicated that Gruden had his own talent scouting staff that he opted to listen to over McKenzie’s scouts.

The Raiders now have five first-round picks in the next two drafts.