Getty ImagesIf/when Jon Gruden continues his coaching career, it apparently won’t be at the University of Tennessee.
According to Jimmy Hyams of WNML in Knoxville, Gruden recently informed the school that he won’t be taking the job. Hyams also reports that no contract was offered.
The second part is likely meaningless. In coaching, contracts typically aren’t offered until contracts are poised to be accepted. The contract is merely the list of the terms to which the coach and the program have verbally agreed. Gruden and UT never agreed verbally on terms, so there was no need to write it all up.
Indeed, the Chattanooga Times Free Press had reported that an offer had been made to Gruden, which can be very different from a formal contract. The talks may have broken down regarding the money that would have been available to Gruden for hiring a staff.
Still, Gruden likely was never truly interested in coaching college kids. He’s an NFL coach, and he’s destined to return to the NFL. Flirting with UT merely ensures that he’ll get his choice of seats when the annual game of musical chairs begins on December 31.
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I’m shocked just shocked. Why would he pass that up? I know even Lane Kiffin didn’t want to be there but seriously. If anything would bring Gruden back it was that job. I’m not sure anyone believed this story for a moment.
Gruden is the man!
two words … Bobby Petrino. Before somebody else signs him.
He was never “in”. This is the annual “let’s get Gruden’s name out there” ploy. It seems that it is just his (or his agent’s) way of generating a potential market if he does decide to return to coaching. His name gets attached to several openings every year (at pro and college teams). It’s not a story unless/until he says he is interested.
A lot of hype for guy with a 95-81 coaching record.
For the love of all that is holy, just someone please get him out of the booth.
Sometimes I wonder if Gruden goes through all this for the attention. He could have easily gotten a coaching job over the last 2-3 years.
Come on down to San Diego coach. We need a change in philosophy badly. Norv Aj and most of their staff need a red tag in their locker. Bring in a guy like Gruden and let him build a new mindset.
I haven’t seen a report like that since 1985! It may be the greates report of all time! This report is a big time playmaker!…..
You mean he didn’t want to move to Knoxville, TN? No…..
Because he is coming to Cleveland.
Can someone please hire him as a head coach so he can get off the MNF broadcast??
“You mean he didn’t want to move to Knoxville, TN? No…..”
I know right. I mean who would want to live in one of the most beautiful regions in the world, the Smoky Mountains of Eastern TN, a outdoor lover’s paradise.
Oh wait.
“This guy” Jon Gruden….
Come back to the Bay Area and coach at CAL.
I actually think Gruden would have been great at Tennessee because he would be a recruiting madman. With that said, I love the fact that the “offensive guru” has offenses that have finished in the top HALF of the league in total offense in only four of his 12 seasons in the NFL. There are often maligned OCs in the NFL who have orchestrated much more successful offenses on a consistent basis.
Believeland Browns. Do it, Jimmy…
Please also let him be “out” as eagles HC candidate!!!!!!!
“A lot of hype for guy with a 95-81 coaching record.”
———
Going 95-81 with the Raiders and Bucs is like going 195-8 with the Giants and Steelers.
If Gruden really wants to coach again, The UT or Clev jobs are all smoke. Lurie will pay him any amount he wants to come to Phila.
The question is how much control is he willing to give him. He saw what totol contol with Reid did.
gruden just got a text from dean spanos…
Come to Philly, whip that D into shape and play smash mouth football and run it with McCoy and Bryce when peters and the rest of the O line comes back. Oh and call Alex smith to manage the offense. Bet u win a lot of games.
Gruden will be going to the Browns. Cleveland has much less of a mess than Philly does! Philly needs a complete overhaul, sans McCoy!
So it’s the same exact result as the last time he was linked “strongly” to Tennessee. There is nothing at all to it except the local media throwing his name out there as the next guy.
Gruden simply doesn’t have the patience for the college game. He’d go through 57 QB’s in a season due to his frustration that they couldn’t pick up his excessively long verbage on playcalls, then right when he finally finds his guy (a fith year senior in week
they would have no eligability left and he has to start all over again.
Gruden (or any successful NFL coach for that matter) isn’t going to babysit college players and have to recruit kids to keep his job after he’s had a good taste of the big leagues? I’m shocked.
Good-I’d rather him be in the NFL.