Jon Gruden has denied allegations that the Jets reached out to him regarding a position on head coach Aaron Glenn’s staff for the upcoming season.
Since resigning from his role as head coach of the Raiders in 2021, Gruden has not coached in the NFL. He’s been working with Barstool Sports and has voiced his interest in returning to coaching at various times.
However, he recently spoke on 95.3 WDAE in Tampa, Florida, where he dismissed the rumors linking him to the Jets. “There are lots of reports, and frankly, some are just ridiculous,” Gruden commented. “Let’s say, for the record, there’s been no contact from the Jets. I truly wish them success in finding their new offensive coordinator.”
The Athletic noted on Tuesday that the Jets have been exploring options for their coaching staff, but it remains unclear what position Gruden would have held.
Initially, Gruden didn’t respond to the speculation when it surfaced, but Barstool Sports’ president, Dave Portnoy, took to social media, saying, “This is one of the most insulting job offers of all time.”
Gruden hasn’t coached in the NFL since his time with the Raiders. He stepped down after emails from his previous tenure as an ESPN analyst were revealed, which contained racist, sexist, and anti-gay comments directed toward then-Washington general manager Bruce Allen.
Despite stepping back from full-time coaching, he has continued to be involved in football, consulting for the Saints in 2023 and serving as an advisor for the Milano Seamen, a team in the Europa League of Football, in 2024. He is now a member of Barstool Sports.
Gruden led the Buccaneers to a Super Bowl win at the end of the 2002 season and has a combined record of 117-112 in the regular season and 5-4 in the postseason during his two tenures with the Raiders and the Buccaneers.
His name has come up in coaching discussions over the past few years, but no franchise has made a move to bring him on board yet.
