The Tampa Bay Buccaneers' biggest personnel announcement on Thursday had nothing to do with the free agent or player in the NFL Scouting Combine. Instead, the Bucs decides to get one of theirs back.
As ESPN's Adam Schefter reports, Buccaneers have decided to bring Super Bowl Champion head coach Jon Gruden back to Ring of Honor.
Gruden was removed from the ring following a controversy over racist, homophobic and misogyny in emails directed to NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and NFLPA executive director Demaurice Smith. That episode forced him to resign as the Raiders head coach in 2021.
Fast forward a few years, and the Bucs are ready to put that episode behind them.
“John Gruden was initially led by the Buccaneers Ring of Honor, based on many accomplishments over his seven seasons as head coach, and remains a key figure in the history of the franchise,” the team's statement read.
“To further reflect, we decided to revive him in the Buccaneers Ring of Honor.”
Gruden's tenure with Bucs (2000-2008) kept the franchise's first Super Bowl Championship and a record of victory in the playoffs. After a stint with Tampa, Gruden's next destination was the ESPN Broadcast Booth. Monday Night Soccer.
The NFL Grid Irons call Gruden again in 2018 when they signed a massive 10-year contract to return to Raiders.
The email controversy has derailed what could have been a promising return for Gruden, and what could have restored silver and black to reliability. Since leaving coaching in 2021, Gruden has worked as a host of his own highly successful YouTube channel, as a saint analyst and as a member of Barstool Sports.
Well, at least as far as Gruden's relationship with the Buccaneers is concerned, it's all about the past.
