Could Jon Gruden make a comeback as a head coach this offseason? That's the burning question many NFL fans are asking. ESPN's Dan Graziano has flagged the former Raiders head coach as a fascinating candidate to watch in the upcoming coaching market.
Yet, there's a significant complication: Gruden is currently embroiled in a lawsuit against the NFL, alleging defamation and breaches of privacy, which adds layers of complexity to his potential return to coaching.
ESPN's Jeremy Fowler also mentioned that if Gruden's legal battles come to an end, he wouldn't be surprised if teams consider interviewing him for available head coaching positions. The reality is, there is a scarcity of offensive-minded candidates in the current coaching landscape, and Gruden's influence is still evident across various NFL teams.
Since his resignation in 2021, Gruden hasn’t stepped foot on an NFL sideline. His exit came during a season that had the potential to be one of his finest, as the Raiders were making strides toward the playoffs under interim head coach Rich Bisaccia.
In March, Gruden expressed a strong desire to return to coaching, stating that it remains his ultimate ambition. While some organizations did their due diligence regarding Gruden's candidacy during last year's hiring cycle, none reached out for interviews.
"I miss it," Gruden shared during a guest appearance on the Fitz & Whit podcast. "I’m scratching that itch right here — I’ve had more people come in here in the past few weeks than probably any coach in the league. College coaches, NFL guys. I’m studying every day, scratching that itch. I would like one more chance to do it because I thought we had that team on the right trajectory. We were 3-0, beating three playoff teams in a row, and it really pains me to see how quickly things changed. So deep down, I hope I get a chance someday, but I’m not counting on anything. Instead, I've focused on reinventing myself."
At 62 years old, Gruden began his head coaching journey with the Raiders back in 1998, later moving on to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers after four successful seasons in Oakland. During his seven years with the Bucs, he achieved remarkable success, including a Super Bowl victory in his first season. However, he was let go in January 2009 and didn’t return to coaching in the NFL until rejoining the Raiders in 2018. His tenure ended abruptly in 2021 when racist emails he sent over several years came to light during an investigation into workplace misconduct at the Washington Football Team, involving exchanges with former president Bruce Allen.
The NFL has denied any responsibility for leaking those emails, and Gruden’s lawsuit against the league and Commissioner Roger Goodell is still very much active.
Over his coaching career, Gruden amassed a record of 117 wins and 112 losses, including a postseason record of 5-4.
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