Gruden rumors heat up for Bucs
TAMPA — One week before Christmas, Jon Gruden will walk out of the ESPN broadcast booth during Monday Night Football and onto the 50-yard line at Raymond James Stadium.
The man who was responsible for winning the Bucs’ only Lombardi Trophy with a 48-21 victory in Super Bowl XXXVII will watch as his name is unveiled Dec. 18 into the team’s Ring of Honor.
So why is this suddenly a thing to worry about at One Buc Place?
Because after Sunday’s 15-10 win over the New York Jets, the Bucs are 3-6. By the time Hank Williams asks his rhetorical question prior to the MNF game against the Falcons, they could be 4-9 or 3-10.
On Sunday before the Jets game, NFL insider Jason LaCanfora of CBS Sports.com became the latest to report speculation of Gruden returning to the Bucs as head coach, saying it is ‘hardly out of the question,” according to league sources.
You have to believe Dirk Koetter wasn’t one of those sources.
Gruden was fired by the Bucs along with general manager Bruce Allen after losing the final four games in 2008 to finish 9-7, narrowly missing the playoffs. It’s true that since then he has mended fences with the Glazer family, attending several team events over the years.
He is only 54. By comparison, Koetter got his first NFL head coaching job with Tampa Bay last year at 57. What’s more, last week Gruden told the NFL Network’s Rich Eisen he hasn’t ruled out a return to the sidelines.
“It’s in your blood,” Gruden said. “You get some people calling maybe to see if you’re interested in coaching again and maybe if you can help recommend a couple guys. I’m pretty much involved with every level of football ever day of the week, so I try to help if I can.
“One of these days, who knows, Rich? One of these days, you never know.”
For the last 10 years, Gruden’s answer has been no thanks. But there are reasons to believe if he ever is going to return to coaching, it will be sooner than later. His youngest son has two years remaining in high school. ESPN is expected to announce 100 layoffs sometime after Thanksgiving, Sports Illustrated has reported. That doesn’t mean Gruden will be among them, but it’s evidence that the Disney-owned cable company isn’t doing great.
Remember when Gruden visited One Buc Place before his news conference announcing his election to the Ring of Honor in Aug? He stuck his head into the quarterbacks meeting room to offer words of encouragement to Jameis Winston.
When Gruden left, there were chuckles and a comment, “He doesn’t miss ball much.” But that’s why he’s studies film in his role at ESPN, the Fired Football Coaches Association and Gruden’s QB camp.