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'I'd die to coach in the SEC' - Jon Gruden wants to shake up college football, which SEC program is going to hire him?

Originally posted on A to Z Sports | By Zach Ragan | Last updated Aug 9, 2025 11:56 AM ET

Jon Gruden wants to coach again.

Specifically, he wants to coach in the SEC.

Gruden, who flirted with the Tennessee Vols during a couple of highly publicized coach searches (Grumors!), recently visited the Georgia Bulldogs for a practice. While speaking to the team, Gruden admitted the main reason he made the trip to Athens is because he badly wants to coach again.

"The only reason I really came here is because I want to coach again," said Gruden while addressing Georgia's football team. "I'm being honest with you. I do not bullsh-t either. I'd die to coach in the SEC. I would love it. I would f---ing love it."

"I sit there and I fantasize -- I'm fantasizing on the (practice) field," continued Gruden. "I said, 'Man, I wish I was coaching against the SEC.' I want to come to Georgia, between the hedges. I'm fantasizing about going up against Kirby Smart. I'm an offensive coach you see. I'm over there fantasizing about coming down here and beating Georgia in the hedges. That's what I'm fantasizing about. Because whether you like it or not, you're the f---ing measuring stick that I base my whole career on as a coach."

“I’d die to coach in the SEC…I would f—king love it”

Coming this fall - Grumors: The NIL edition pic.twitter.com/STqyUxJJgg
— zach ragan (@zachTNT) August 9, 2025

Earlier this spring, Gruden told Vol Network's Mike Keith that he'd love to be a graduate assistant at Tennessee.

Gruden also told Keith that he was interested in taking the Tennessee job at one point and even had "people ready to go".

It's not a surprise that Gruden, who will turn 62 later this month, is eager to return to the sidelines. With Bill Belichick now coaching at North Carolina, it's not hard to imagine a college program giving Jon Gruden a look

But whether an SEC school will actually make that move is anyone's guess. I doubt Gruden, at this point in his career, would be at the top of the list for an SEC school. But with college football becoming more like the NFL thanks to NIL contracts, maybe an SEC school that needs a spark would hire Gruden just for the name recognition.

The Arkansas Razorbacks could make sense if they move on from Sam Pittman. Arkansas has been a bit stale over the last decade. Hiring Gruden would create some buzz.

The same goes for the Mississippi State Bulldogs if they decide that Jeff Lebby isn't the answer.

Gruden to the SEC feels like a longshot, but college football has become so unpredictable that I don't think it's a scenario that can be completely ruled out.

This article first appeared on A to Z Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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