Jerry Reese is out of work, but he’s not that desperate.
The former Giants general manager, fired after last season, turned down a chance to interview for the Raiders’ vacant GM position, according to an ESPN report Sunday.
Oakland recently fired GM Reggie McKenzie, who had a position increasingly less powerful when in conjunction with Gruden, the $100 million coach who was handpicked by Raiders owner Mark Davis to create the team in his image. Under McKenzie and Gruden, the Raiders traded away stars Khalil Mack and Amari Cooper.
Into that confusing hierarchy — a coach with heavy say in personnel — might have stepped Reese, who led the Giants from 2007-17, a span that included two Super Bowl wins and a late decline, which saw the Giants fire him and hire Dave Gettleman. Instead, the 55-year-old Reese will stay home and await another opening.
In other circumstances, the job in Oakland — which has three first-round picks this offseason — would be a nice challenge, a chance to remake a team through the draft. Not under Gruden.