Ex-NFL coach Jon Gruden has revealed his hopes of returning to the sidelines in the near future.
The former Buccaneers and Raiders coach stepped away from the sport back in 2021 after he was shown to have used racist and homophobic language in leaked emails.
He ventured down a new career path back in November after signing a multi-year contract with Barstool Sports – but it now seems that he’s keen to return to coaching.
According to The Detroit Free Press, on Monday, Gruden told reporters: ‘Hopefully I’m not done. I’m about to make a comeback.
‘I’m working hard to maybe get one more shot, but hopefully some of these guys that fell off my branch, if you say it that way, maybe they can hire me cause I’m looking for a job. I don’t care if I coach at Jones Junior High. I’m going to coach again.
‘I’m still coaching. I’m just not on a team officially, but I do have some private assignments I work on and I wear some gear when I’m watching the games that nobody knows about who I’m pulling for.’
Ex-NFL coach Jon Gruden has revealed his hopes of returning to the sidelines
The former Buccaneers and Raiders coach stepped away from the sport back in 2021
Back in 2021, Gruden resigned as head coach of the Las Vegas Raiders after The New York Times reported that Gruden frequently used misogynistic and homophobic language directed at Commissioner Roger Goodell and others in the NFL.
The Wall Street Journal, meanwhile, reported that Gruden used a racist term to describe NFL union chief DeMaurice Smith in a 2011 email to former Washington executive Bruce Allen.
The emails also showed him complaining about the drafting of a gay player and tolerance for those protesting racism by kneeling during the national anthem.
However, despite the controversy surrounding Gruden, the Buccaneers reinstated him to the team’s Ring of Honor back in February.
‘Jon Gruden was initially inducted into the Buccaneers Ring of Honor based on his many accomplishments during his seven seasons as head coach and he remains a significant figure in the history of our franchise,’ the team said.
‘Upon further reflection, we have decided to reinstate him into the Buccaneers Ring of Honor.’
NFL commissioner Goodell and former Washington Commanders owner Dan Snyder had been accused of leaking Gruden’s racist, homophobic emails that led to his dismissal as Raiders head coach in 2021.
NBC’s Peter King, a veteran NFL reporter, previously wrote that ‘several smart people in the league think the leaks come from the Snyder camp’ and that reporting had been matched by the Washington Post.
The Buccaneers reinstated former head coach Gruden to the team’s Ring of Honor
Meanwhile, a former Washington cheerleader and marketing director has accused Snyder of leaking Gruden’s emails.
The 61-year-old coached the Bucs between 2002 and 2008, leading the franchise to victory at Super Bowl XXXVII. He was inducted into the Ring of Honor in 2017.
Back in October 2021, however, the NFL franchise reversed that decision after the offensive emails were released, claiming Gruden’s actions went ‘against our core values as an organization.’
‘The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have advocated for purposeful change in the areas of race relations, gender equality, diversity and inclusion for many years,’ a statement read.
‘While we acknowledge Jon Gruden’s contributions on the field, his actions go against our core values as an organization. Therefore, he will no longer continue to be a member of the Buccaneers Ring of Honor.’
Gruden previously coached in the NFL from 1990 to 2008, including stints with the Raiders and Buccaneers. He was rehired by the Raiders in 2018 – two years before the team’s move to Las Vegas.
