He will now calls plays with Jon Gruden gone, but says not a lot will change
Other than new interim Las Vegas Raiders head coach Rich Bisaccia, no other assistant’s role will change in the aftermath of Jon Gruden’s sudden departure more than offensive coordinator Greg Olson.
He is no longer the No. 2 offensive coach on the staff. With Gruden now gone, the Raiders’ offense belongs to Olson, who has been the Raiders’ offensive coordinator since Gruden came back to the organization in 2018.
Olson, 58, will now be the play caller for Las Vegas, beginning Sunday at the Denver Broncos. Gruden had been the offensive play caller since 2018. Olson, who has called plays in other stops including with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Jacksonville Jaguars as offensive coordinator, is the new offensive play caller.
Speaking to the media on Thursday, the always affable Olson said not a lot will change with the offense. He did concede that it’s possible there may be a “different flow” anytime there is a change in play callers. Yet, Olson, who was on the Raider’s staff for quarterback Derek Carr’s first season, expects everything to be smooth Sunday when the Raiders play in their first game without Gruden.
”The communication hasn’t changed at all, other than the voice they’re hearing,” Olson said.
Olson said his previous role during games was to “suggest” plays to Gruden at the head coach’s request, and to be a “buffer’ at times between Gruden and Carr, again at the head coach’s request.
Now, it’s Olson’s show. He’s ready.
“I’m really fortunate to have a veteran staff around me,” Olson said. “We have a strong staff, we’re just going to be a man short.”
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