–Packers background: Sunday’s game reunites Raiders head coach Jon Gruden and Chiefs head coach Andy Reid, who worked together 26 years ago as gopher-level assistants under Green Bay’s Mike Holmgren.
This week they each recalled their days together with the Packers.
“We were both young and we were able to learn a ton from a great head coach,” Reid said. “Jon and I spent a lot of time together, along with Steve Mariucci, we were the youngest guys on the staff. We all kind of bonded and did our thing. We did a lot of the gopher work, which we loved. Great learning experience and great foundation to build on.”
Under Holmgren, Gruden and Reid went to the postseason twice, but were unable to win it all during that three-year stretch. But they learned from the experience. Each has been the head coach of a Super Bowl team, Reid with the Philadelphia Eagles (lost to New England Patriots) and Gruden with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (beat the Raiders).
“We had a blast with that stuff,” Reid said. “Who could find what or design what. We had a blast with that. He (Gruden) is a creative mind, so you got to stay on you’re A-game when you are hanging with him.”
Added Gruden: “Yeah, we have a lot of memories. I just have a lot of good feelings right now watching this tape. We’ve got our hands full. He’s a great friend of mine. Passionate coach. He loves football. He might be one of the few guys I know that likes football more than me. That’s why I treasure him.”
BY THE NUMBERS: 7 of 8 — Rookie kicker Daniel Carlson has made 7 of 8 field-goal attempts since joining the Raiders earlier this season after being cut by the Minnesota Vikings following a game in which he missed three field-goal attempts in a loss to the Green Bay Packers.
