Former Las Vegas Raiders head coach Jon Gruden has spent the last few months telling anyone he could that he’s dying to get back into coach, whether it be in the NFL or in the college ranks.
In fact, during a recent appearance at Detroit Lions training camp, Gruden admitted to reporters that he’ll consider any avenue that gets him back into the coaching world again.
“I’m about to make a comeback,” Gruden said. “I’m working hard to maybe get one more shot. … I’m going to coach again. I’m still coaching. I’m just not on a team officially.”
With several high-profile job openings in college football, it seems Gruden may be close to making good on his declaration.
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According to betting market Kalshi, Gruden is now one of the favorites to land the head-coaching job at Arkansas along with North Texas’ Eric Morris and Memphis’ Ryan Silverfield. Gruden’s odds jumped from 1% to 23% in recent days.
While speaking at the University of Georgia back in August, Gruden made it known coaching in the SEC is an opportunity he wouldn’t pass up.
“The only reason I really came here is I want to coach again,” Gruden stated. “I’m being honest with you. I do not [expletive], either. I want to coach again. I’d die to coach in the SEC. I would love it. I would [expletive] love it.”
Gruden hasn’t coached since being let go by the Raiders in 2021 for sending emails using racial slurs and homophobic language. The 62-year-old has a 117-112 record with five playoff appearances and one Super Bowl win.
Though he has professional experience that both Morris and Silverfield don’t, the other two have the edge in college experience.
Morris has a 44-33 record in seven seasons with Incarante Word and North Texas, including a 20-15 mark with the Mean Green with one bowl appearance. Conversely, Silverfield is 50-24 in six-plus with the Tigers, including four bowl appearances (all wins).
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