SANTA CLARA — Howie Long admits he expected good things following Jon Gruden’s inaugural press conference on Jan. 6 after being hired for the second time as head coach of the Raiders.
Long sat down with Gruden for an interview which will air on the Fox pregame show before the Raiders’ game against the 49ers at Levi’s Stadium Thursday night. Unlike the preponderance of general public, which sees Gruden’s return as a disaster at 1-6, Long thinks there is light at the end of the tunnel.
Even if it happens to emanate from Las Vegas.
“After talking to him, I got the sense that his passion is as great as it ever was,” Long said during a phone interview.