Fooch’s update: Don’t bet on Steve Young

Steve told us "no way" on the show on Thursday — Daniel Ogden (@OGTrinny) January 8, 2018

The Oakland Raiders are expected to formally hire Jon Gruden this week to be their next head coach. The splashy move also means ESPN will be looking to hire a new color commentator for Monday Night Football. Gruden has been working MNF since 2009, and specifically with play-by-play broadcaster Sean McDonough since 2016.

ESPN will have to make a decision in the coming months, and Bet DSI has the first odds on who will replace Gruden. Former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Steve Young is the current betting favorite, slightly ahead of Matt Hasselbeck. The top four odds belong to former NFL quarterbacks.

Steve Young +250

Matt Hasselbeck +350

Kurt Warner +500

Tim Tebow +750

Louis Riddick +800

Rex Ryan +900

Ronde Barber +1000

Ron Jaworski +1000

Randy Moss +1250

Peyton Manning +1500

Jay Cutler +2000

Bruce Arians +3000

Joe Thomas +5000

Young makes sense given his work on ESPN’s MNF pre- and post-game shows. Given the regular work he does there, it does not seem like a stretch to see him stepping into the booth with McDonough.

Louis Riddick is an intriguing option if I wanted to bet on a non-player. Riddick spent ten years bouncing around the NFL and other leagues, and then spent 12 years working as a scout and then personnel executive. He has worked as on-air talent for ESPN since 2013, and the past two years have seen him interview for GM jobs, including with the 49ers.

Young has a more known reputation among football fans, which is why I could see him getting the job over Riddick. Gruden casts a sizable shadow in his departure. Young might make more sense than Riddick as someone who casts his own shadow. At the same time, if they want to go with somebody a bit less well known following the well known Gruden, I could see Riddick getting the job.

As for Riddick’s interest in GM jobs, Gruden was connected to new head coach openings virtually every year he was working MNF. I don’t think that should matter with regard to Riddick, but we’ll see what ESPN decides.