John Gruden Makes a Return to Football—This Time in the Arena League

John Gruden is stepping back into the football scene, but it’s not in the NFL. The former head coach is becoming part owner of the Nashville Cat, a team in the Arena Football One League.

Although he’s not taking on a head coach role, Gruden mentioned he’ll serve in a “consulting and advisory capacity” for the team’s soccer and business operations.

Joining Gruden in the ownership group is Jeff Fisher, who previously coached the Tennessee Titans and the Los Angeles Rams. Gruden expressed his enthusiasm in a statement, noting, “I’ve been a long-time indoor soccer fan and jumped at the chance to partner with Jeff and the Nashville Cats. I really respect what he accomplished throughout his career.”

After resigning as head coach of the Las Vegas Raiders in 2021, Gruden hasn’t been linked to a professional football team until now. His resignation followed the revelation of troubling emails he sent prior to joining the franchise.

Last year, Gruden briefly took on an advisory role with the New Orleans Saints, although he wasn’t officially part of the coaching staff.

Amid his ongoing legal battles, including a lawsuit against the NFL for contract interference, Gruden is looking to redefine his place in the football world. Interestingly, Gruden’s younger brother, Jay, previously found success in the Arena Football League, both as a player and a coach.

Since stepping back from coaching, Gruden has maintained connections with the NFL and has even begun working with Barstool Sports, sharing his knowledge with sports media audiences.

Now, it seems he’s ready to immerse himself in the game once again, bringing his considerable expertise to a new frontier in football.