The NFL is full of second chances. We consistently see players and even coaches who have off-the-field issues return to the game. That was no different this week as a former head coach who lost his job over a massive scandal, got back in the coaching game.
Disgraced NFL Head Coach Returns To Pro Football (Report)
It’s not what you’d expect. Former Oakland Raiders, Las Vegas Raiders, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Jon Gruden is back in the game:
Jon Gruden resigned from the Raiders early in the 2021 season after news broke of his email scandal. The former “Monday Night Football” commentator spent the 2023 season as a consultant for the New Orleans Saints, but wasn’t brought back for 2024.
On Monday, Arena Football One league Commissioner Jeff Fisher announced that Gruden is joining the ownership group of the Nashville Kats. The AF1 club is owned by Fisher Football Ventures LLC, with Fisher serving as the Kats’ Chief Advisor:
‘The Nashville Kats and the Arena Football 1 league are very excited to have someone with Jon’s experience and expertise and success to not only be part of the ownership but also take an active role in a variety of ways within the organization”
Here is Jon Gruden’s statement:
“I have been a fan of indoor football for a long time and jumped at the opportunity to be involved with Jeff and the Nashville Kats as part of the ownership group. I have so much respect for what Jeff has done over his career and continues to do with the Nashville Kats and as commissioner of AF1. I’m excited to be part of the team.”
Fisher was the head coach of the Houston Oilers/Tennessee Titans franchise from 1994 to 2010 and for the St. Louis/Los Angeles Rams from 2012 to 2016. Fisher also spent one year as head coach and GM of the USFL’s Michigan Panthers before resigning.
Gruden resigned in 2021 after old emails were leaked of him using racist, homophobic and misogynistic language. The Super Bowl 37-winning head coach resigned soon after, stating that he didn’t want to be a distraction to the Raiders.
Here is a look at Gruden’s coaching career:
| Team | Year | Regular season | Postseason | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Won | Lost | Ties | Win % | Finish | Won | Lost | Win % | Result | ||
| OAK | 1998 | 8 | 8 | 0 | .500 | 3rd in AFC West | — | — | — | — |
| OAK | 1999 | 8 | 8 | 0 | .500 | 4th in AFC West | — | — | — | — |
| OAK | 2000 | 12 | 4 | 0 | .750 | 1st in AFC West | 1 | 1 | .500 | Lost to Baltimore Ravens in AFC Championship Game |
| OAK | 2001 | 10 | 6 | 0 | .625 | 1st in AFC West | 1 | 1 | .500 | Lost to New England Patriots in AFC Divisional Game |
| OAK total | 38 | 26 | 0 | .594 | 2 | 2 | .500 | |||
| TB | 2002 | 12 | 4 | 0 | .750 | 1st in NFC South | 3 | 0 | 1.000 | Super Bowl XXXVII champions |
| TB | 2003 | 7 | 9 | 0 | .438 | 3rd in NFC South | — | — | — | — |
| TB | 2004 | 5 | 11 | 0 | .313 | 4th in NFC South | — | — | — | — |
| TB | 2005 | 11 | 5 | 0 | .688 | 1st in NFC South | 0 | 1 | .000 | Lost to Washington Redskins in NFC Wild Card Game |
| TB | 2006 | 4 | 12 | 0 | .250 | 4th in NFC South | — | — | — | — |
| TB | 2007 | 9 | 7 | 0 | .563 | 1st in NFC South | 0 | 1 | .000 | Lost to New York Giants in NFC Wild Card Game |
| TB | 2008 | 9 | 7 | 0 | .563 | 3rd in NFC South | — | — | — | — |
| TB total | 57 | 55 | 0 | .509 | 3 | 2 | .600 | |||
| OAK | 2018 | 4 | 12 | 0 | .250 | 4th in AFC West | — | — | — | — |
| OAK | 2019 | 7 | 9 | 0 | .438 | 3rd in AFC West | — | — | — | — |
| LV | 2020 | 8 | 8 | 0 | .500 | 2nd in AFC West | — | — | — | — |
| LV | 2021 | 3[n 1] | 2[n 1] | 0 | .600[n 1] | Resigned | — | — | — | — |
| OAK/LV total | 22 | 31 | 0 | .415 | 0 | 0 | – | |||
| Total | 117 | 112 | 0 | .511 | 5 | 4 | .556 | |||
