Jon Gruden Makes Coaching Decision Amid NFL Playoffs

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Ayomide Adeduyite | Last updated Jan 28, 2026 5:27 AM ET

Jon Gruden’s coaching career is one of the NFL’s most storied and controversial arcs. He first gained prominence as a young offensive mind before becoming head coach of the Oakland Raiders in 1998.

Gruden later coached the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, where he won the Super Bowl in 2003 by defeating his former Raiders team. He established himself as a fiery, detail-oriented leader known for offensive creativity and intense preparation.

After a decade away from coaching, the Raiders brought him back in 2018 on a 10-year, $100 million deal. But his second stint ended in 2021 amid an email scandal involving emails that led to his resignation and departure from the league.

Former Las Vegas Raiders head coach Jon Gruden.Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Since then, Gruden has worked as a media personality and consultant, including an offseason advisory role with the New Orleans Saints in 2023, but has not held a full-time NFL coaching job.

Despite the hiatus, Gruden’s name has continued to surface in coaching discussions due to his experience and Super Bowl pedigree. The 62-year-old has been linked to NFL interest in recent years, with teams like the Miami Dolphins often considered a potential fit.

That trend continued Tuesday as another franchise looked to add veteran leadership to its staff. According to The Athletic’s Zack Rosenblatt, the New York Jets reached out to Jon Gruden about joining head coach Aaron Glenn’s staff ahead of the 2026 season. However, Gruden wasn’t interested in the job.

The #Jets reached out to Jon Gruden about the idea of joining Aaron Glenn's staff, according to multiple sources. Gruden wasn't interested in the job. pic.twitter.com/2clDfvTXDr
— Zack Rosenblatt (@ZackBlatt) January 28, 2026

The outreach comes as the Jets work to overhaul their coaching ranks following a disappointing 3-14 campaign in 2025, a season that left them with the No. 2 overall pick in the upcoming draft. New York parted ways with offensive coordinator Tanner Engstrand on Tuesday, and faces multiple vacancies, including defensive coordinator, offensive passing-game coordinator, quarterbacks coach, defensive line coach, linebackers coach, assistant defensive backs coach and two defensive assistants, according to ESPN’s Rich Cimini.

As for Gruden, he has expressed in the past that he wants to coach again. “Hopefully I’m not done… I’m about to make a comeback,” he said while visiting a training camp back in August. But that interest appears contingent on the right opportunity and role.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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