Jon Gruden is one of the first and only sports personalities I truly admire and respect. In a new televised world where hot takes, arguments, and overtly biased announcing have reigned supreme, I find Gruden’s football knowledge inspiring. I first discovered Gruden through his QB Camp when he featured former Baylor QB Bryce Petty a few years ago. My dad raved about his brilliant takes and we both continued to tune in as he brought in the other QBs of the class (Brett Hundley, Garrett Grayson, Marcus Mariota, James Winston). Although I despise his brother, Jay, I’m a huge fan of Gruden’s.
Gruden was a QB at the University of Dayton in the early 80s and immediately moved on to coaching after graduation. His coaching portfolio includes time as a grad assistant at Tennessee before continuing his collegiate tracks at Southeast Missouri State and University of the Pacific where he was the passing game coordinator and tight ends coach, respectively. Gruden landed his first big gig as an offensive assistant with the 49ers in 1990 until he was named the wide receivers coach at the University of Pittsburgh in 91. He returned to the NFL a year later when he became an offensive assistant and later wide receivers coach for the Packers from 1992-1994. Gruden took a step up when he was named offensive coordinator for the Eagles from 95-97 and finished his career with head coaching jobs. He was given the reigns to the Raiders as their head coach from 1998-2001 before transferring to the Buccaneers under the same title in 2002-2008 to conclude his coaching career. The Buccaneers won Super Bowl XXXVII under his reign. As a head coach, Gruden posted a 95-81 record in the regular season with an additional 5-4 record in the postseason. After he was fired in 2009, Gruden was hired as on-air talent by ESPN, where he currently resides today.
