Former Oakland Raiders and Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Jon Gruden is reportedly interested in returning to the sidelines.
Gruden expressed that interest in an exclusive interview with CBS Sports, opening up to the media for the first time since the fallout over his private emails being leaked.
While a college coaching position seems the most likely path considering his tenuous relationship with the NFL at present, he is eyeing a role at any level.
“Yeah, I’m interested in coaching,” Gruden said. “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.”
CBS reached out to multiple sources and all seemed to conclude that there would be interest from some schools over Gruden’s services.
Jon Gruden Returning To Football?
As a Dallas Cowboys fan, I wouldn’t even blink before accepting the services of one Jon Gruden if they were offered. We couldn’t kick Mike McCarthy out the door fast enough.
But again, a return straight to the NFL seems highly unlikely.
Gruden resigned in October 2021 after the surfacing of emails from 2010 to 2018 that contained allegedly racist and homophobic remarks.
The emails were initially discovered during an NFL investigation into the Washington Redskins (at the time) workplace culture. It led to widespread controversy when they became public.
Gruden’s resignation came amidst mounting pressure, especially after an email using a racially insensitive metaphor to describe NFLPA executive DeMaurice Smith was revealed. He also used colorful language to describe NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell.
His departure followed a significant contract with the Raiders, marking a dramatic fall from grace.
Gruden’s actions were far less egregious than some players in the league who are offered second chances, though. So maybe one day he’ll lead another team to a Super Bowl victory.
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Says He Deserves Due Process
Jon Gruden initiated legal action against the NFL in November 2021, alleging that Commissioner Goodell, or others acting on his behalf, leaked his private emails to the media with the intent to force his resignation from the Raiders.
In a subsequent development in late July, Gruden’s legal team submitted a petition to the Nevada Supreme Court, requesting a review of an earlier decision by a three-justice panel.
This panel had ruled in favor of the NFL, allowing the case—which involves allegations of civil contract interference and conspiracy—to be transferred into arbitration, a process typically favored by the league for resolving disputes.
In the interview with CBS, Gruden was asked about any regrets he might have over his personal and private emails.
“I’m not even going to get into whether or not. The due process will take care of itself. I haven’t even had my due process yet, so for me to sit here and say, ‘Who said what?’ You know, we’ll just go through the process and leave it at that,” he responded.
There are probably a lot of people in NFL or college front offices who have much more offensive language in their private emails than what led to Gruden’s ouster. He definitely didn’t get due process or a fair shake.
Let’s hope he gets a chance to get back into coaching.
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