Kiffin joins Madden, Shanahan, Gruden as ex-Raiders

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It’s not so bad being an ex-Raiders coach. Lane Kiffin should take heart.

The job gave John Madden ulcers. He left after the 1978 season and wound up more famous as a talker than a coach, reaching that elite level where he is known well enough to be mocked. Rumor has it he’s also involved with some video game.

Mike Shanahan toiled as the Raiders coach during the 1988 and 1989 seasons. After being fired, he resurfaced in Denver and led the Broncos to Super Bowl victories in 1997 and 1998.

Jon Gruden spent four years as the Raiders head man, then was ‘traded’ to Tampa Bay after the 2001 season. Gruden led the Buccaneers to the 2003 Super Bowl where they dismantled (cue John Lennon’s ‘Instant Karma’) the Raiders, 48-21.

Then there was the Raiders head coach who had a so-so 23-16-3 record, failed to make the playoffs and became won of the most feared and successful litigants in all of sports.

But who would want to end up looking like Al Davis?

-- Chris Foster