Former Tampa Bay Buccaneers Super Bowl-winning head coach Jon Gruden has been out of coaching since 2021, when his infamous email scandal forced him to resign from the Las Vegas Raiders after racist and homophobic comments he made came to light.
Since then, Gruden has worked to rebuild his public image by joining Barstool Sports as a football content creator and analyst.
Despite that success, Gruden has remained open about his desire to return to the sidelines and do what he loves most: coach football.
Last year, Pewter Report’s Scott Reynolds reported that Gruden had his sights set on becoming an NFL head coach again and was willing to wait for the right opportunity.
But according to The Athletic’s Zach Rosenblatt, Gruden finally received a chance to return to the NFL, and he turned it down.
jesus christ it literally doesn’t get worse than this oh my god https://t.co/WpAmxJZ33k
— The Jet Press (@TheJetPress) January 28, 2026
Jon Gruden declines coaching opportunity from the New York Jets
After firing offensive coordinator Tanner Engstrand, the Jets reportedly pursued Gruden for an offensive role on their coaching staff.
It remains unclear whether the offer was to take over as offensive coordinator or to serve in another offensive role, such as an assistant. Regardless, Gruden declined the opportunity.
It says a lot about the Jets that a coach as eager to return to the league as Gruden would pass on what could have been a stepping stone in a potential coaching revival.
At the same time, it’s hard to blame him for being selective. At 62 years old, Gruden’s next coaching job could very well be his last. Taking on an offensive role for a team coming off a 3-14 season with no clear long-term plan at quarterback is a tall task, even for the best offensive minds.
Perhaps Gruden is waiting for a more promising opportunity in a more stable environment. Based on what Reynolds previously reported, Gruden made it clear he was willing to wait for the right situation, and the Jets clearly did not meet that standard in their current state.
It would be a treat for the NFL world, especially Bucs fans, to see “Chucky” back on the sidelines if the right opportunity ever comes along. After all, he’s the coach who led Tampa Bay to its first Super Bowl victory. He’s one of the most passionate, animated, characters in NFL lore and the league is simply more entertaining when he’s on the sideline.