Another offseason, another coaching carousel in the NFL. Black Monday has come and gone, and now seven NFL teams are looking for new head coaches. Fed up with the current options, every year teams reach back into the past, hoping to lure a coach-turned-TV personality back to the sidelines. Bill Cowher and Brian Billick are two examples, but the real prize is ESPN commentator Jon Gruden.
It was only a matter of time before Gruden's name got mentioned, and it finally happened in the week leading up to Wild Card weekend. Gruden was rumored to have expressed interest in Philadelphia, where the Eagles booted Chip Kelly after three seasons. Gruden confirmed the rumor to be false in less than 24 hours, and is in the broadcast booth for the Chiefs-Texans Wild Card matchup.
Would Gruden leave ESPN? He is reportedly their highest-paid employee, earning over $6 million annually. He hasn't outright declared he's done coaching, and it just seems like he's waiting for the opportunity. Gruden is 52 years old, and can be patient for the right situation. Over the summer, Gruden said on The Paul Finebaum Show that the coaching fire is still alive.
"I love football. I'll be the first to tell you, I miss coaching. But I do look at my job here as a lot like coaching. I get a chance to be around it 364 days a year and I feel like I'm improving, but I don't have a team."
Until Gruden has a team, we can speculate about the best fits for him. Here are some potential destinations, with photos by Getty:
5. Miami Dolphins
The Dolphins look ready to pull the trigger on Adam Gase, but there's no doubt Gruden would work in Miami. He didn't need an elite QB during his first Super Bowl run in Florida, and the Dolphins have defensive pieces that Gruden can build around. Think Warren Sapp to Ndamukong Suh. Gruden can re-sign Lamar Miller and build around a solid front and a strong running game, and would be a splash signing in the crowded AFC East.
4. Philadelphia Eagles
It's already been shot down, but rumors don't just pop up out of nowhere. The Eagles are not a bad team, they simply became fractured under Chip Kelly's leadership. Gruden can figure out if Sam Bradford is the right guy, but otherwise has a talented team around him. It would mean a fresh start for the Eagles, whose messy end to 2015 left a bad taste in their mouth.
3. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
A return to Tampa. Gruden going back to where he won Super Bowl 38 would be a huge signing for the franchise, who are loaded with young players on the brink. The Bucs finished as the NFL's fifth-best offense, as Jameis Winston recorded franchise record numbers in his first season. Gruden would get Lavonte David to be his Derrick Brooks, and take control of a team that could be next year's NFC surprise.
2. Tennessee Titans
If not Winston, why not Mariota? The Titans have their own young franchise quarterback, and have the added benefit of picking first overall in the 2016 Draft. The biggest strength is playing in the AFC South. Gruden would have a decent division schedule, and could rack up the wins in his first season. The Titans went 3-13, but their defense was ranked 12th in yards allowed and 12th in sacks. Gruden would have some work to do on offense, but could take the Titans defense to an elite level.
1. New York Giants
Gruden is a football historian, and could be enticed by the idea of joining one of the NFL's oldest franchises. New York has some work to do on their roster, but Gruden can maximize Eli's final years. The Giants have skilled players on defense including Landon Collins, Prince Amukamara, and Jason Pierre-Paul. The dealbreaker for Gruden will be whether he will have any control over his roster. None of these teams have also fired their GM, so if the situation still isn't right, expect to see Gruden back in the booth next season.
Jon Gruden’s Next Coaching Job: Top 5 Possible Teams