Former Las Vegas Raiders head coach Jon Gruden has expressed a strong desire to return to coaching, despite the scandal that led to his abrupt departure from the NFL.
Gruden, once a highly respected figure in football both as a head coach and broadcaster, saw his reputation tarnished after the release of controversial emails, which forced him to step down from his position in 2021.
Now, he’s eager to get back in the game and rebuild his career.
“Yeah, I’m interested in coaching,” Gruden told CBS Sports. “My dad was a college coach, I was a college coach at Pitt, my wife was a cheerleader at Tennessee when I met her. Hell yeah, I’m interested in coaching.
“I know I can help a team. I know I can help young players get better, and I know I can hire a good staff, and that’s the only thing I can guarantee. But yeah, I’m very interested in coaching at any level, period.”
Gruden’s departure from the Raiders came amid a firestorm of controversy after emails containing offensive language surfaced, leading to his resignation after Week 5 of the 2021 NFL season.
The fallout from the scandal raised questions about whether Gruden would ever return to coaching, but the 61-year-old believes he still has much to offer.
He was recently spotted attending Kansas City Chiefs’ training camp this summer.
Both Andy Reid and Patrick Mahomes spoke highly of Gruden and his appearance sparked speculation about a potential comeback.
While his presence at camp doesn’t necessarily indicate any formal coaching interest, it has added to the conversation around his future in the sport.
Gruden’s coaching career began in 1998 when he took over as head coach of the then-Oakland Raiders.
After a successful stint with the team, he went on to lead the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, where he won Super Bowl XXXVII in 2003.
After stepping away from coaching in 2008, Gruden returned to the sidelines in 2018 to coach the Raiders, guiding them through their transition from Oakland to Las Vegas in 2020.
Despite his past success, Gruden’s future in football remains uncertain.
He currently serves as an advisor for the Milano Seamen of the European League of Football. While that role keeps his toes wet, he clearly wants to return to the sidelines.
Gruden has an ongoing legal battle against the NFL. Only time will tell how that whole situation shakes out.
The college football route may be the most likely for Gruden at this time. There is speculation that the Florida Gators may consider him as a replacement for the expected-to-be-fired Billy Napier. (Wouldn’t that be something?)
Regardless, Gruden says he’s all-ears for anyone who’s interested in speaking to him.
“If there’s somebody out there that thinks they need a candidate, somebody to come in there, maybe lather it up a little bit, jazz it up a little bit, I’ll be down here in Tampa,” Gruden said. “I’ll be ready to go if needed.”
During the interview, Gruden made it clear that he’s perfectly comfortable in his own skin and believes he still has a ton left in his coaching tank.
“I know exactly what I’m all about,” Gruden said. “It’s not the first time people have thrown mud at me. If you’re gonna get into this business, you know you’re gonna have to deal with some of that stuff, but I’m really confident with whatever people want to say about me.
“I don’t have much else, you know? I got my wife, my family, the guy upstairs and football. That’s pretty much been it.”
What are your thoughts on Gruden’s desire to return to coaching?
Would he be better off going the college or NFL route?
At the end of the day, will we see him back on the sidelines again???