Fansided

5 potential NFL head coaching gigs for Jon Gruden

By John Buhler

Jan 23, 2015; Scottsdale, AZ, USA; ESPN broadcaster and Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Oakland Raiders former coach Jon Gruden at Team Irvin practice at Scottsdale Community College in advance of the 2015 Pro Bowl. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 23, 2015; Scottsdale, AZ, USA; ESPN broadcaster and Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Oakland Raiders former coach Jon Gruden at Team Irvin practice at Scottsdale Community College in advance of the 2015 Pro Bowl. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
5 of 6
Next
Nov 8, 2015; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Blake Bortles (5) loses control of the ball as he attempts to pass against the New York Jets during the second quarter at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 8, 2015; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Blake Bortles (5) loses control of the ball as he attempts to pass against the New York Jets during the second quarter at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports /

Jacksonville Jaguars

Jacksonville needs to finish with a near-.500 record for current head coach Gus Bradley to keep his job. While the offense has grown immensely in the last two years with Blake Bortles at quarterback, Bradley’s defense hasn’t developed as planned in year three in Jacksonville.

Eccentric billionaire owner Shad Khan has to know that less than 15 wins in a head coach’s first three years with a team isn’t acceptable. Always willing to push the envelope in the unconventional, Khan could hire Gruden after seven years out of the game to coach Bortles and the Jaguars franchise.

Jacksonville has a young and talented passing game built around Bortles, tight end Julius Thomas, and wide receivers Allen Robinson, Allen Hurns, and Marqise Lee. For an offensive minded coach like Gruden, this may stand as the best option to come back as a head coach both personnel and expectation wise.

The Jaguars are in the tail end of their dark period as an NFL franchise. They play in a weak AFC South. Gruden would stand as the best coach in the division if he landed in sunny Jacksonville. Who knows, he may really enjoy the annual London game and two-tone helmets. This is a sleeper destination, but could actually stand as a sleeping giant should Gruden or the right head coach land in the River City.

Next: St. Louis Rams

Home/Cleveland Browns