Jon Gruden addresses coaching rumors

December 9, 2012; Tampa, FL, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers former head coach Jon Gruden talks during a presentation celebrating the 10th anniversary of the 2002 Super Bowl Champions during halftime against the Philadelphia Eagles at Raymond James Stadium. The Eagles won 23-21. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /

With the NFL coaching carousel having started up with the firing of Gary Kubiak as head coach of the Houston Texans, the usual suspects currently working in the media are being mentioned as possibilities. The one that comes to mind first is always Jon Gruden, currently working at ESPN as Monday Night Football.

Gruden had previously been linked to the USC job as Pat Haden acknowledged that he had talked to Gruden about the then open head coaching job. According to Haden, Gruden was “an NFL guy”. The assumption has been that Gruden is just waiting for the right fit and he would jump at the chance to coach again.

In a report from Aaron Wilson of the National Football Post (found here), Gruden said the following:

An ESPN analyst, Gruden told his employer that he intends to remain at ESPN at least through the 2014 season. He’s worked for ESPN since 2009.

“I’m just trying to do my job,” Gruden told ESPN. “I’m not going to address every little rumor or supposed conversation that takes place, according to these so-called sources.

“There are a lot of good coaches out there available to coach these teams. I’m just hoping ESPN likes the the job I’m doing. That’s my focus.”

People will parce every syllable in that response and if that really means he wants to stay at ESPN or if he just wants to be left alone and then he will come back when he comes back. Like with Bill Cowher and Tony Dungy, where no one is ever satisfied with the answer that they give and it is just a matter of time before they come back.

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