With the first reports that Jon Gruden was looking to get back into coaching, there were also reports that he was being proactive in calling around to gauge interest in joining his staff. Among the early names in that search is New York Jets offensive coordinator John Morton, according to a report in the New York Daily News.

Morton has been allowed to speak with other teams, apparently even for a lateral move. The first year OC has spent 11 of the past 16 years in the NFL coaching ranks.

During his playing days as a wide receiver, Morton had three offseason and practice stints with the Raiders in the ‘90s (93, 94, 96).

After a couple season in the CFL, he ended his football playing career. He got his start with the Raiders under Gruden and was promoted to offensive assistant under Bill Callahan in 2002 when Gruden was traded to the Buccaneers.

Prior to this past season, Morton spent six seasons as a wide receivers coach in San Francisco and New Orleans. He coached Michael Crabtree for four seasons with the 49ers from 2011-14.

Normally you would expect an organization to block a lateral move like this, but according to the report, the Jets wouldn’t stand in the way should Morton ask to leave to re-join Gruden in Oakland.