Jon Gruden Reveals College Football Job He Considered Taking

Originally posted on The Spun | By Tzvi Machlin | Last updated Nov 15, 2024 10:42 AM ET

Newly-hired by Barstool Sports, former Super Bowl-winning NFL head coach Jon Gruden is reflecting on some of the missed opportunities he's had, which includes a high-profile head coaching job.

Appearing on Pardon My Take, Gruden revealed that he was seriously interested in taking the Tennessee head coaching job when it became available to him. He pointed out that his wife was a cheerleader at Tennessee and had previously been an assistant there. While he wouldn't specify what year he received the offer, he remarked that he was working alongside Mike Tirico on Monday Night Football at the time, which puts the timeframe between 2011 and 2014.

“My wife cheered at Tennessee. I love Tennessee. I was a graduate coach there, and I did talk to the Athletic Director,” Gruden said. “And I don’t look up to anybody more than I look up to Peyton Manning and Kenny Chesney. Those are two of my favorite Tennessee guys. And I was very interested in doing it.”

“At that time I was having so much fun on Monday Night Football with Mike Tirico I couldn’t take any other job. To be in the thought process is always exciting and hell, Tennessee was one that is really close to my heart. I almost did consider pulling the trigger there.”

ALAMEDA, CA - JANUARY 09: Oakland Raiders new head coach Jon Gruden speaks during a news conference at Oakland Raiders headquarters on January 9, 2018 in Alameda, California. Jon Gruden has returned to the Oakland Raiders after leaving the team in 2001. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

We can probably deduce that the offer - if it existed at all - came sometime in 2012, when the Vols fired Derek Dooley before hiring Butch Jones. That's the main hire that would have fit the timeframe he's suggesting.

But Gruden decided to stay in the broadcast booth for a few more years before joining the Raiders in 2018. Given how his tenure with the Raiders ended, it's easy to understand why he might regret not taking the Vols job when he had the chance.

An offer like that certainly doesn't seem to be on the horizon any time soon. The Vols seem wildly happy with current head coach Josh Heupel, who has led the team to heights they haven't enjoyed since the Phillip Fulmer era.

Did Gruden blow his chance at getting his perfect job?

This article first appeared on The Spun and was syndicated with permission.

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