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6 hours ago
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Long-time football coach and broadcaster Jon Gruden revealed on his first day working for Barstool Sports that he nearly took Tennessee’s head coaching job during his 10-year hiatus from coaching – but ultimately stayed at ESPN instead of taking the Vols’ job.
“My wife cheered at Tennessee. I love Tennessee. I was a graduate coach there, and I did talk to the Athletic Director,” Gruden said (h/t On3). “And I don’t look up to anybody more than I look up to Peyton Manning and Kenny Chesney. Those are two of my favorite Tennessee guys. And I was very interested in doing it.
“At that time I was having so much fun on Monday Night Football with Mike Tirico I couldn’t take any other job. To be in the thought process is always exciting and hell, Tennessee was one that is really close to my heart. I almost did consider pulling the trigger there.”
Gruden will likely never get another chance to coach Tennessee, but he may not be at Barstool for long either.
Jon Gruden is looking to get back into coaching in the NFL
Boomer Esiason claimed that after speaking with league sources, he’s heard that Gruden is canvassing the NFL in hopes of returning to the coaching ranks.
“I’m telling you right now, (I made a) couple calls last night… I can confirm that he definitely wants to get back in. One hundred percent,” Esiason said on Boomer and Gio on WFAN in New York (h/t Raiders Beat).
“I can also confirm, and I believe this to be true… this is, again, my opinion after speaking to at least two different people that are involved in coaching searches and things of that nature, that there are teams that are interested in him. If it’s not this year, it’s definitely next year. But he’s coming back. He’s definitely coming back.”
Barstool has oftentimes been a springboard to bigger things in the football world. The most famous example? Pat McAfee got his start there.
Gruden may be using Barstool to get his redemption. And it just may work.
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