Jon Gruden Expressed Interest In Replacing Gene Deckerhoff
April 14th, 2026
Legendary Bucs radio voice Gene Deckerhoff retired after last season and, if Team Glazer is of sound mind and heart, Deckerhoff will be inducted into the Buccaneers Ring of Honor this year.
So will replace Gene?
The Bucs haven’t made an announcement and it’s been three months. One could argue Deckerhoff is irreplaceable, and he is. But the radio calls of games will go on.
Buccaneers Ring of Honor head coach Jon Gruden, aka Chucky, joined the recent episode of The Rondé Barber Show and asked about Deckerhoff’s replacement. Upon hearing the job is open, Chucky raised a hand.
“I’m available. I’ve got some media history,” Gruden said. “Could you imagine me announcing Buc games? Oooh, man.”
Joe doubts Gruden would really be a play-by-play guy, but Joe could see Chucky being a one-year fill-in. Joe suspects Bucs radio advertisers would love it and so would fans. Again, Joe’s thinking of this as a one-season novelty.
April 14th, 2026 at 10:39 am
He knows there’s about to be an head coach opening at one buc palace. I see your vision Jon lol.
April 14th, 2026 at 10:42 am
Oh H***No as coach again, LOL
April 14th, 2026 at 10:45 am
Is Mark Champion retired?
April 14th, 2026 at 11:05 am
Jon would be great lol…im sure we’ll get a few F bombs lol
GO BUCS!!!!
April 14th, 2026 at 11:07 am
I would love if Gruden did it. Honestly, anyone BUT TJ Reeves please.
April 14th, 2026 at 11:12 am
Gruden was a much better in the booth as an announcer
Than he was on the sidelines as a HC
April 14th, 2026 at 11:14 am
Yes, please! No one can replace Gene, though Gruden would fill in with his own unique style. Worth a go. I hate listening to tv broadcasters.
April 14th, 2026 at 11:14 am
i agree, he would be great. What would be cool is if they got Chucky and Big Nasty to announce the games. I would definitely listen to that. Think about it. I would do like I did with Deckerhoff and turn off the TV announcers.
April 14th, 2026 at 11:22 am
Gene got out at the right time. I would often listen to radio with screen on mute, Gene started missing calls and players names which I forgave because I know I could not do better. I put Gene in 2nd place, 1st place Kevin Harlan Radio play by play when he did it for KC. He would make a 3 yard run seem like a Touchdown, loved his enthusiasm.
Gene, enjoy retirement if that is possible.
April 14th, 2026 at 11:23 am
When Gruden speaks about football, his voice ooozes enthusiasm, zeal, and juice. As an announcer? Yes, please.
April 14th, 2026 at 11:27 am
Joe… wouldn’t Chucky be a better analyst than a Play by play guy? I think so.
April 14th, 2026 at 11:27 am
I would love Chunky but the best replacement woukd absolutely be TJ Reeves!!!
Listened to TJ do the Bowl game last year and he was great.
April 14th, 2026 at 11:27 am
I’ll tell you what man…
April 14th, 2026 at 11:34 am
That would be so fun and entertaining. Doubt it happens but, it would be the only fun thing about the 2026 season.
April 14th, 2026 at 11:41 am
THIS WOULD BE FANTASTIC.
April 14th, 2026 at 12:09 pm
Chucky is a commentator, not a play, by play guy. No one listened to Marv Albert for his expertise, they listened for the “yes”! when a basket was made. Gene did “Allstott up the gut”! That’s not Gruden.
April 14th, 2026 at 12:12 pm
I was wondering about this the other day!? I don’t think he’d be the best “play-by-play” guy, but he would be the absolute PERFECT pick for the “color commentator” dude. He could play a big part and BIG name of a top notch team. He’d be the best the Bucs could ever hope for, and a GREAT gig for Gruden to have for many years. He can’t coach football at a high-level anymore. That ship has sailed. It’d be the perfect gig for him… he’d still have PLENTY of time for all of his other media stuff with Barstool, his QB Camp, and his work associated with USF. I’m not sure if he has a role at USF in any ‘official’ capacity, but I swear it seems-like I heard him say he was doing ‘something’ for them recently!? I hope he is. I know he’s using their new indoor facility for his QB workouts.
April 14th, 2026 at 12:42 pm
DO IT!!! Makes too much sense, though. You know like getting a defensive coach that coaches a good defense. It’s a Bucs life.
April 14th, 2026 at 12:56 pm
I Raise my hand in support of Jon Gruden being a temporary one year replacement…. that would be groovy!
April 14th, 2026 at 1:04 pm
I don’t know about a play by play guy but definitely the color guy he would be a shoe in.
April 14th, 2026 at 1:04 pm
Yes! Do it GlaZers!!
April 14th, 2026 at 1:09 pm
I know Mish is a hockey guy through and through—but he’s so good and would be awesome in the Bucs booth!
April 14th, 2026 at 1:27 pm
I say bring Chucky in and let him soften the blow of losing a franchise icon.
It would be so entertaining and breath some life into a beleaguered fan base.
And how cool would it be to bring Gene back on air for the game he gets inducted into the Bucs ring of honor!
Him and Chucky together on air for a Bucs game!!!
That gets me fired up. Unlike Bowles who puts us all to sleep.
April 14th, 2026 at 1:30 pm
I got a better idea, make Chucky HC and put Bowles in the broadcast booth. lol.
April 14th, 2026 at 1:34 pm
Bring back Jesse “The Body” Ventura!
April 14th, 2026 at 1:39 pm
I’d love to hear Gruden in that role. TJ would be fine but Jon would be a GAS!
April 14th, 2026 at 1:41 pm
Jon could not do play by play radio. It will likely be Reeves
April 14th, 2026 at 1:42 pm
buc4evr Says:
“I got a better idea, make Chucky HC…”
Gruden will not be offered a HC job on an NFL team before he plays the role of OC for a few years.
April 14th, 2026 at 2:09 pm
Oh if only Ray Scott were still around. Best radio voice I ever heard. Mean Gene right up there. Is “Jessie the Body” still alive🤣.
April 14th, 2026 at 2:10 pm
I would love it
April 14th, 2026 at 2:30 pm
Waiting for 813bucboi to come in here and give us the most random reasons why Gruden would be awful at whatever position in the team, and would rather put someone like Teddy Bridgewater or Russell Wilson or Geno Smith because they would be better…for some reason….
April 14th, 2026 at 3:21 pm
Realist Says:
April 14th, 2026 at 2:30 pm
Waiting for 813bucboi
we know reading is hard for you!!!!!..maybe you missed it…
you couldnt spell DOG if i gave you the O & the G…
GO BUCS!!!!!
April 14th, 2026 at 4:12 pm
Gruden would be a hoot. Plus he would definitely be a Homer Bucs fan. Not only does he know what is going on, he would bring positive energy and excitement, and a sense of humor. Get him if you can.
April 14th, 2026 at 4:47 pm
Jesse Ventura was also around for one year on Bucs radio, in Gene’s first year, along with Al Keck.
Chucky would be a good bridge guy, brings a big name to the spot. Not sure how he’d do as play-by-play, obviously a more natural fit at color.
April 14th, 2026 at 5:02 pm
Make it happen. Chucky would be great…..
April 14th, 2026 at 6:04 pm
He would definitely bring more attention and eyeballs to the Bucs through his regular Barstool gig alone. He’s a huge part of the “Wake Up Barstool” (WUB) Show (especially during the season) on EVERY Monday Morning, along with Greg Olsen, Dave Portnoy, Brandon Walker, T-Bob, Big-Cat, and ‘big-time’ Bucs Fan Man, Steven Cheah. It would be an absolute HOMERUN HIRE for the Bucs. They couldn’t dream of a better person for the color guy!!!!
April 14th, 2026 at 6:17 pm
I see Gruden as more of an analyst or color guy.
He likes to dive deep when I watch his videos or see/listen to shows he’s a guest on.
Play-by-play forces you to focus on the here and now, and move quickly from one thing to the next.
It’s very surface-level.
Gruden’s talent, aside from being entertaining to listen to, is his analysis of how things work from the larger picture schemes down to the specifics of a play.
April 14th, 2026 at 7:25 pm
I’m just grateful that SOMEONE (anyone!) is replacing GD.
The end of an era, indeed!
April 14th, 2026 at 7:32 pm
CHUCKY 2…Im in!
April 14th, 2026 at 7:48 pm
All in on that!
April 14th, 2026 at 8:15 pm
I was hoping he’d come on as OC and leave the rest in place but that’s be a pretty hefty demotion.
April 14th, 2026 at 8:16 pm
All that man does is football …
April 14th, 2026 at 8:24 pm
Just bring him back as HC
April 14th, 2026 at 11:23 pm
I would be ok with him giving it a shot. Especially as an analyst. As a coach he was like a Ritalin-kid version of Bowlzo.
April 15th, 2026 at 6:26 am
Ok…just don’t hire him as a coach ever again.
April 15th, 2026 at 11:13 am
Just STOP with the “coaching” nonsense. It’s OVER. At least at a ‘high-level’ again. His ship has sailed. If you are suggesting the HE be a HC or OC again, then YOU don’t know sh!t about FOOTBALL, are empty, and living in a fantasyland. Period.