Jon Gruden Out in Tampa
Despite a late-season collapse, and being considered to be the sleeper candidate to be fired in the offseason, he seemed to have survived the always reliable rash of firings that follow every NFL regular season. This includes the termination of long time Broncos head coach Mike Shanahan. Some might consider Tampa’s decision to wait until three weeks after the regular season to fire their head coach somewhat unusual, as many hot candidates have already interviewed and been scooped up by other teams.
Gruden leaves Tampa with the distinction of bringing the Bucs their only Superbowl title.
Jon Gruden’s Coaching Career
Like many, Gruden earned his stripes by coaching in the college ranks, first as a graduate assistant at the University of Tennessee. Next, he moved on to Southeast Missouri State as the quarterbacks coach, and the University of the Pacific as the wide receivers coach.
Gruden kicked off his professional coaching career with the San Fransisco 49ers as their quarterback coach, before moving on to the Green Bay Packers as the wide receivers coach, and working under the tutelage of the now retired Mike Holmgren. Other assistants on that staff included future head coaches Andy Reid, Steve Mariucci and Dick Jauron.
After Green Bay, he moved on to the Philadelphia Eagles, where he worked as the offensive coordinator for two seasons.
His first head coaching opportunity came from Al Davis to take over the helm of the Oakland Raiders. Unlike many Raider coaches in the last three decades, Gruden was not dismissed from his position in Oakland, but was traded to Tampa to replace Tony Dungy.
In his first season as head coach of the Buccaneers, he helped to take home Tampa's first and only Lombardi trophy, with a win over his former team the Oakland Raiders.
Gruden's firing might be considered by some to be very untimely from a coach's standpoint, as many head coaching vacancies, including the Detroit Lions and Cleveland Browns jobs, have already been filled.
Potential Head Coaching Candidates To Replace Jon Gruden
Whenever a coach is fired or resigns, the football world always erupts over naming potential replacements. This season, some of the favorite names to be raised as replacements for outgoing coaching are Brian Billick, Bill Cowher, Mike Shannahan and Marty Schottenheimer. Among assistants to be regularly thrown into the mix are New York Giants defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo, Atlanta Falcons offensive coordinator and former Bills head coach Mike Mularkey, and Baltimore Ravens defensive coordinator Rex Ryan.
