Jon Gruden Seriously Considering Open Tennessee Job

Butch Jones was finally given the boot by Tennessee. The search for his replacement has begun and one name is already picking up steam.

Former Super Bowl-winning coach Jon Gruden has long been attached to rumors regarding a return. NFL teams and college teams have sniffed around about his interest in a comeback. He hasn’t coached since 2008 when he chose to retire following the season. Since then he’s enjoyed his time as an analyst for Monday Night Football. Up until now he’s remained adamant that the job is where he’d prefer to stay.

Most however felt he would only return when the right opportunity presented itself. Being an alum of Tennessee, the growing rumors insist that the 54-year old is ready to don the headset again. Having accomplished everything he could in the NFL, it seems he’s anxious to lead the program that helped him get into coaching.

Gruden placing calls to coaches about possibly joining him

John Brice, a prominent sports columnist tied to Tennessee football for years, explored the possibility and came away with some surprising realizations. Chief among them being that Gruden is taking this opportunity far more seriously than he has any other since walking away nine years ago.

"“The overtures to Jon Gruden, a Super Bowl champion coach, the NFL’s most recognizable broadcast voice and one-time UT assistant coach in the 1980s, are very real and much further along than at any point in any of Tennessee’s previous courtships to the mega-star football mind.Six different sources, ranging from current coaches to former all-time great Vols to college administrators, in the past 72-96 hours tell me that Gruden is far more seriously considering this Tennessee offer than ever before; so much so that Gruden is making some preliminary calls to coaches and other college athletics folks about potentially joining him in Knoxville.”"

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It’s hard to say what the impact will be. Gruden hasn’t coached in a long time. He hasn’t coached at the college level for even longer. Recruiting is something he’s never done before. He’ll also be walking into the SEC. That conference can be unforgiving. Even to a former Super Bowl winner. At the same time this could be an inspired hire. Gruden has a proven track record. He might be the man who can make Tennessee relevant again.