Jon Gruden seems to be eyeing a return.
Jon Gruden Sends Clear Message on Returning to Coaching Ahead of College Football Season originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
Former Super Bowl-winning head coach Jon Gruden hasn't graced the sidelines since his second tenure with the Las Vegas Raiders ended in 2021.
Although his departure from the team centered around controversy following the release of emails he sent that used racist, misogynistic and homophobic language, the public perception around the former head coach has completely flipped. He has since signed on as a content creator/analyst with Barstool Sports and has begun to be linked to possible coaching openings.
The 61-year-old Gruden recently confirmed his interest in coaching in the SEC when doing a speaking engagement at Georgia and was asked about his interests in returning on Friday's episode of "Pardon My Take."
"Hell yeah, man," Gruden said. "This is the best time of the year if you're a coach. I mean, you practice twice a day. You meet all night. Everybody’s undefeated. All the players are competing for jobs. You got a new nucleus of players. You got new free agents, draft picks. It’s just exciting putting your team together, taking the next step. And I’ve had a chance to visit some really cool camps. I can’t wait till we kick it off.”
How Serious is Gruden About Returning to Coaching?
When asked by host Big Cat what percent chance there is that he'd return to coaching, Gruden didn't give a number, but he did make a quick pitch to potential hiring teams/programs.
"[Expletive] I don't know what I want to yet," Gruden said. "I like living in Tampa. I'm helping a lot of guys privately on the side, and I do know I can help a team and hopefully one of these days I get a shot to do it."
Potential Job Openings in SEC
With Gruden confirming interest in coaching in the SEC, The Athletic recently named six SEC coaches on the hot seat, which could mean six openings to spark Gruden's interest:
- Sam Pittman (Arkansas Razorbacks)
- Hugh Freeze (Auburn Tigers)
- Billy Napier (Florida Gators)
- Mark Stoops (Kentucky Wildcats)
- Brian Kelly (LSU Tigers)
- Brent Venables (Oklahoma Sooners)
There's still a lot that needs to unfold, but clearly, Gruden is itching for a return to coaching.
Related: Hugh Freeze Spotted Slamming His Visor After Jackson Arnold's Mistake
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Aug 15, 2025, where it first appeared.
Category: Football