Jon Gruden is eyeing a fresh start in the broadcast booth, and this time, he's aiming for the lead chair. The former NFL head coach, who spent nine seasons as a color commentator on Monday Night Football, recently revealed on The Ira Kaufman Podcast that he wants to transition into play-by-play announcing. “I was a broadcaster for nine years; hell’s bells,” Gruden said. “I want to be play-by-play. You know, Frank Gifford, he transitioned into the play-by-play role. I would like to transition. I had nine years of watching these guys — [Mike] Tirico. And I’d like to give that a shot, man.”
Gruden’s pivot from analysis to the microphone marks a notable shift in his post-coaching career. Currently working with Barstool Sports, the Super Bowl-winning coach hasn’t been on an NFL sideline since he resigned from the Raiders in 2021 amid a scandal over leaked emails. Now, he’s looking to reinvent himself in a role that demands a different set of skills—calling the action live, rather than dissecting it after the snap.
Fans have been quick to weigh in on social media, with reactions ranging from excitement to skepticism. “Yeaaaaa bring him back!” one fan cheered, while hockey play-by-play announcer Phil Giubileo offered a measured take. “Why not?! Honestly, I have no idea if Gruden would be a good play-by-play announcer, but if he’s really interested in doing it, I would imagine he’d put in the requisite work to learn how to properly call games.” Another fan predicted, “If he’s going back to the broadcast booth, Monday Night Football is about to get electric again.”
But not everyone is on board. Mike J. Asti of WV Sports dismissed the idea outright: “Gruden either has no idea what the difference is in the craft of doing play-by-play compared to being an analyst or he’s simply out of his mind.” A separate fan simply declared, “Hard pass.” The debate underscores the challenge Gruden faces: convincing critics that his on-air persona can adapt from colorful analysis to the precise, rhythmic demands of play-by-play.
Gruden’s broadcasting history is well-documented. He joined ESPN’s Monday Night Football in 2009 after a successful coaching stint with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, where he won a Super Bowl. His energetic, sometimes bombastic style made him a polarizing figure in the booth. When he left to coach the Raiders in 2018, it seemed his broadcasting days were behind him. But after his resignation in 2021, Gruden has been exploring other avenues, including a legal battle with the NFL over the leaked emails that led to his departure. The Gruden vs. NFL trial date locked in for 2027, setting the stage for a legal showdown that could reshape his public narrative.
Gruden’s interest in play-by-play isn’t entirely out of left field. He’s already dipped his toes into live event announcing, with plans to fire up the IndyCar season opener in St. Petersburg. That gig could serve as a testing ground for his new ambition. Meanwhile, the broadcasting world is watching closely, with some wondering if Gruden can pull off a transition similar to Frank Gifford’s legendary move from analyst to play-by-play.
The chatter around Gruden’s goal highlights a broader fascination with his next chapter. Whether he lands a major network gig or sticks with Barstool, his path back to the booth is anything but ordinary. For now, NFL fans remain intrigued—and divided—about what a Gruden-led broadcast would sound like. One thing is certain: if he gets the chance, it won’t be boring.
