Jon Gruden Says Current NFL QB Reminds Him Of Joe Montana

Originally posted on The Spun | By Daniel Bates | Last updated Jul 28, 2025 2:16 PM ET

Jon Gruden has pretty much seen it all over the course of his three-plus decades in pro football and the former Super Bowl-winning head coach had some extremely high praise for one of the NFL's current QBs.

Showing face at Lions training camp this week, Gruden was asked about quarterback Jared Goff and this is what the 61-year-old had to say:

"I hate to throw comparisons out but the number, the continuous movement that he plays with, he always reminded me of [Joe] Montana," Gruden shared, via Detroit beat writer Nolan Bianchi. "From the days I was with the 49ers, my dad coached at Notre Dame with Joe — but there's a similar personality, a similar playing style. He is one tough cat in the pocket."

Former NFL head coach Jon Gruden says #Lions QB Jared Goff reminds him of Joe Montana.

“Similar play style, similar personality. He is one tough cat.” pic.twitter.com/hsbpN4yeno
— Nolan Bianchi (@nolanbianchi) July 28, 2025

Goff is coming off his fourth Pro Bowl appearance after posting some of the best numbers of his career on the way to leading the Lions to a franchise record 15 wins and the one-seed in the NFC playoffs.

Unfortunately, it ended in an upset to Jayden Daniels and the upstart Washington Commanders. But Goff has pretty firmly established himself as one of the league's better quarterbacks since being given a second shot by Dan Campbell and Detroit's organization.

When Goff entered the league as the No. 1 pick out of Cal, the quarterback he was most compared to was former Falcons/Colts QB Matt Ryan due to their similar size and ability to operate within the pocket.

ARLINGTON, TEXAS - OCTOBER 13: Jared Goff #16 of the Detroit Lions calls a play at the line of scrimmage in the fourth quarter of a game against the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium on October 13, 2024 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images)Ron Jenkins/Getty Images

And while there are some similarities you can point to when it comes to Mr. Perfect, Matty Ice and Joe Cool, Montana had some qualities that neither of them possess.

That's not to say Jared Goff isn't really good at what he does. But it's hard to find a ton to compare when you're putting him up against the man many considered the GOAT until Tom Brady's sixth and seventh rings.

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

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