The New York Jets are facing serious turnover on the coaching staff this offseason, if you haven’t been keeping up with the news this week.
If we include the firing of Steve Wilks in December, head coach Aaron Glenn parted ways with eight assistant coaches from his 2025 staff, including offensive coordinator Tanner Engstrand, earlier this week.
Glenn hired his new defensive coordinator, Brian Duker, from the Miami Dolphins, but he’s still searching for his next offensive coordinator.
A report surfaced that New York had reached out to former head coach Jon Gruden to join his offensive staff, but declined the opportunity.
However, Gruden set the record straight during an interview with Tampa Bay radio host Tom Krasniqi.
Jon Gruden Pushes Back on Jets Report
On “The Drive w/TKras,” Gruden denied the report that the New York Jets asked him to join their coaching staff.
“There’s a lot of reports we’re not going to get into. As you know, there’s a lot of stupid rumors out there. Some of these reports are ridiculous,” Gruden told Krasniqi.
“Let’s just say there was never anything from the Jets, and I wish them well in their search for a new offensive coordinator.”
Since Gruden resigned from the Las Vegas Raiders during the 2021 season, he’s been trying to get back into coaching, whether it’s at the NFL or collegiate ranks.
If he denied a potential offensive coordinator or senior offensive assistant position, that doesn’t sound like the best way get himself back into conversations in league circles.
Zack Rosenblatt, The Athletic’s Jets insider, was the one who initially put out the report, but either his intel is off, or Gruden is trying to cover his tracks and not let it get out that he turned a coaching gig down.
One thing’s for sure, New York could use a fresh voice to lead their offense.
In 2025, they were one of the worst-functioning offenses in football, finishing 29th in Sumer Sports’ EPA/play.
Gruden’s Raiders weren’t perfect, but you can certainly make the case that the Jets could’ve benefited from having an offensive mind like him on their staff.
Instead, the former Super Bowl-winning head coach is staying with Barstool Sports and awaits another chance to get back into the league.
Is Somebody Lying?
Between Rosenblatt’s New York Jets sources and Gruden’s denial, someone has to be lying, right?
Maybe there’s a shred of truth found in both parties, as WFAN radio host Gregg Gianotti theorized on Friday morning with co-host Boomer Esiason.
“One of two things are happening and I feel like Jon (Gruden) doesn’t want to deal with stuff like this and he could say something like there was never anything from the Jets with the plausible deniability,” Gianotti questioned.
“I don’t think Zack (Rosenblatt) did anything untrue. That’s what I’m saying. So that’s why I believe that there’s something he’s skirting himself around it.”
Gianotti’s theory makes a lot of sense. Gruden could be saying that no one from the Jets ever reached out to him personally, but maybe it was his agent who was in contact with New York about a potential role.
Either way, the former Las Vegas Raiders head coach will not be in New York in 2026, and the Jets’ offensive coordinator search moves forward.
Jon Gruden Sends Blunt Message After Jets Report Emerges