Jon Gruden Back to Coaching

Kenny Corcoran, Athletics Editor|January 24, 2018

Jon Gruden is back in Oakland as the Oakland Raiders head coach after being away from coaching since the 2008 season more than 9 years ago.  Gruden signed a 10 year, 100 million contract to become the raiders head coach for the second time.  Gruden was previously the head coach of the Raiders for 4 seasons from 1998-2001.  In that time his win-loss record was 40-28, including his record in the playoffs.  

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers fired their head coach Tony Dungy at the end of the 2001 season and Jon Gruden became their head coach. Gruden reshaped the whole Buccaneers team starting with their offense and molding their defense into being one of the top defenses. The Buccaneers made the playoffs that season, dominating their way all the way to the super bowl, winning by an average of 23 points per game.  

Super Bowl XXXVII was an interesting matchup between Gruden’s new team, the Buccaneers, and his old team, the Oakland Raiders. This Super Bowl named the Gruden Bowl, or the pirate bowl considering both teams have pirate logos and team names. The Raiders were 4-point favorites to take home the Lombardi trophy, however the Buccaneers dominated the game winning 48-21.  With this Super Bowl Victory, Jon Gruden became the youngest head coach to ever win a Super Bowl, at 39, before Mike Tomlin became the youngest when he won the Super Bowl with the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Gruden coached the Buccaneers until the end of the 2008 season, compiling a record of 57-55 as head coach of the Buccaneers.  He holds the record for most wins by a Buccaneers head coach with 57.  He is also a member of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers ring of honor which was given to him during a monday night game for the buccaneers in the beginning of the 2017 season. He is the second coach to receive this honor from the Buccaneers.

Since he left coaching Gruden has been an NFL analyst and color commentator for ESPN’s Monday Night Football. He had been alongside legendary Mike Tirico for years as the duo on Monday Night Football commentary. Gruden also ran Gruden QB camp where he would give constructive criticism to NFL quarterbacks.

Gruden now returns to his original head coaching position with the Oakland Raiders.  This time it specifically says in his contract that he can’t be traded or a no trade clause. Gruden has already hired his two main coordinators, former Jaguars offensive coordinator, Greg Olson and now former Bengals defensive coordinator.