Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Jon Gruden Nearing His Return

A decade ago Jon Gruden left the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in a state of flux, choosing to walk away from the game and retire to be with his family.

This after having the most successful run any Buccaneers head coach has ever had. He won the Super Bowl his first season in charge and went on to go 57-55 in seven seasons. His team went 9-7 each of the final two years he was in charge. As his children were growing though he realized he wanted to be there to see it. So at age 46 he chose to walk away, accepting a position as a broadcaster on Monday Night Football to fill his football time.

Now here it is again. Another off-season, another string of rumors wondering if the former coach is going to return. He’s flirted with the idea the past couple years but remained out to this point. Well it would seem that things have changed. His kids are mostly all grown up. At 56-years old his window of getting back into the game is closing. To top it off the job he left behind is about to become available again. Gruden may be ready to return.

Gruden seems all but certain to regain control of the Bucs

"“There’s a growing sense in league circles, as explained by multiple league sources to PFT over the past two days, that Gruden will return to Tampa Bay as the next coach of the Buccaneers.Gruden last commented on the situation three weeks ago, at a Tampa-area press event that, coincidentally, a handful of reporters covering the team were told about. Said Gruden on the possibility of returning to coaching, “I’ve got a job I’m trying to hang onto. I love football, I love what I’m doing and I can’t control all the reports.”He may not be able to control some of the reports (like this one), but it was Gruden who pulled the rip cord on the lawnmower by musing about coaching at a time when most assumed he’d migrated to the Bill Cowher don’t-bother-to-even-ask phase of his career.”"

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The idea no doubt from both sides is for Gruden to help the Buccaneers regain standing as one of the top teams in the NFC. That and of course find a way to get the most out of young quarterback Jameis Winston. Gruden seems to have the sort of temperament and knowledge that can help make the former #1 pick the success he should be. It would also present a major opportunity for Gruden himself to do something he never has, which is develop a young QB into a star. No doubt the team ownership is hoping there is still that same magic he had 10 years ago.