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Jon Gruden Lands Surprising New NFL Job Ahead Of Preseason

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This article was originally published on Total Pro Sports.

Jon Gruden (Photo Via Imagn Images)

Jon Gruden has stayed away from the NFL for the past five years, but now that is about to change.

The former Super Bowl-winning coach will return to the broadcast booth this preseason to call the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ home game against the Kansas City Chiefs.

The Buccaneers announced the news on Thursday. Gruden will join Hall of Fame cornerback Ronde Barber in the broadcast booth. Barber spent his entire NFL career with Tampa Bay and played under Gruden when the Buccaneers won their first Super Bowl. More than 20 years later, the two franchise legends are teaming up again.

The team shared the announcement on social media and celebrated the pairing. “Two franchise icons are back together again. Super Bowl-winning head coach & Buccaneers Ring of Honor inductee @BarstoolGruden joins Pro Football Hall of Famer & Buccaneers Ring of Honor inductee @rondebarber in the broadcast booth when we host the Kansas City Chiefs,” the Buccaneers wrote.

Fans Welcome Gruden And Barber Reunion

Jon Gruden speaking
Jon Gruden (Photo via Imagn Images)

Buccaneers fans reacted to the announcement with a lot of excitement.

“Fire dem cannons already, we await the moment,” one fan wrote on X.

Another fan posted, “Really excited to see these two together again.”

A third fan added, “If the commentary’s as legendary as the duo, I’ll need popcorn and a time machine to keep up.”

This preseason assignment marks a return to calling league action. He has also said that he wants to become a play-by-play announcer.

He took over the team in 2002 and immediately led Tampa Bay to its first Super Bowl title by beating the Oakland Raiders in Super Bowl XXXVII. Although the Buccaneers fired him after the bad 2008 season. He was later added to the team’s Ring of Honor, removed in 2021, and then returned last year.

Barber also had an outstanding career with the Buccaneers. During the team’s Super Bowl season, he earned All-Pro honors and played a key role in the playoff run. In three postseason games, he recorded two interceptions, including a pick-six, and defended 10 passes. Barber spent all 16 seasons of his NFL career with Tampa Bay before being inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2023.

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