Jon Gruden Wants A Play-By-Play Job
July 14th, 2026
Yes, Buccaneers Ring of Honor head coach Jon Gruden wants a new job — even though he has a gig with Barstool Sports.
Ira Kaufman and Joe spent a couple of hours at Gruden’s Tampa office on Friday and walked away with a 25-minute interview for the Ira Kaufman Podcast.
During the sitdown, Gruden said he’d like the job vacated by Bucs radio play-by-play man Gene Deckerhoff. But Gruden expounded to explain he’s serious about play-by-play on a national scale.
“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.”
For those unaware, Gifford was a Hall of Fame player for the Giants in the 1950s and 1960s before he became an iconic Monday Night Football voice for decades — color analyst and play-by-play.
Gruden is not joking about a new broadcast role. Expect a more formal announcement on that front soon.
July 14th, 2026 at 8:02 am
This guy has been blackballed because of some inane comments he made that were done in Private. The NFL is a joke politically the way that cave to the DEI agenda. anything for Money is OK though. I am sick of their greed and political correctness statements on the field and elsewhere. Bunch of Hypocrites but love Football. Shame the owners are Scum. Go Bucs!!
July 14th, 2026 at 8:04 am
Seems like kind of a natural.
July 14th, 2026 at 8:09 am
I’d like for that to happen again.
July 14th, 2026 at 8:11 am
honestly i’d rather have him doing play by play over color.
July 14th, 2026 at 8:19 am
What’s up with blocking comments Joe?
July 14th, 2026 at 8:21 am
Describing the owners as greedy pigs is controversial?
July 14th, 2026 at 8:40 am
I don’t care for Gruden.
July 14th, 2026 at 8:41 am
He’s a color analyst!
Play by play is not Gruden at all!
July 14th, 2026 at 8:44 am
Have no idea why he’s not coaching as Offensive Cordinator or HC somewhere. He was railroaded by the commissioner.
July 14th, 2026 at 8:45 am
Gruden is a natural. He is good for the fans and football
July 14th, 2026 at 8:55 am
@Joe @Jon
Hearing Jon Gruden’s voice instantly takes me back. That’s pure Buccaneers nostalgia my friend. Love him or hate him, Gruden has unmatched energy, football IQ, and a way of making you want to run through a brick wall. If he lands a national play-by-play job, I’ll be tuning in.
Chucky is still one of a kind. 🏴☠️
Green Right Strong, Z Right, Spider 2 Y Banana!!
🔥 LFG!!
💍 ME!!
🏈 TB FANS ARE BRICKED UP for ‘26!!
July 14th, 2026 at 8:56 am
The fact that you felt the need to explain who Frank Gifford was to the audience here is proof that I’m getting older. To the younger guys unaware, as Joe noted. Gifford was an outstanding player in his day. And it’s worth looking up – a black and white photo of him motionless on the field laid out by a devastating hit by Chuck Bednarik. One of the iconic pics of the NFL as it was becoming more and more popular, positioning itself to overtake baseball as the US”s favorite game.
July 14th, 2026 at 8:56 am
Gruden doing play by play sounds fun
July 14th, 2026 at 9:23 am
It would have been awesome to hear Gruden call the 3rd and 28, 4th and 14 collapse against Atlanta and the immortal Kirk’s Cousin.
Has anyone asked Todd why like half of Cousins’ career yards are against Bolwes, while he sucks against everyone else?
July 14th, 2026 at 9:32 am
If Tony Romo was good at color commentating he would be Gruden. There’s a fine line between annoying and entertaining, and Gruden knows how to stay on the right side of the line
July 14th, 2026 at 9:35 am
I’d listen to it if it was uncensored, much like the Manningcast is better on Monday nights than the usual driveling we hear from the stiffs in the booth.
July 14th, 2026 at 9:36 am
Sheesh Joe – who ran afoul of the moderators on here? Everything is pending moderation review. Has VAR infiltrated your site?
July 14th, 2026 at 9:46 am
Gruden was already a good color analyst and with his vast knowledge he could easily transition into the play by play.
July 14th, 2026 at 9:54 am
Replace Collinsworth with anyone! White noise! Road noise! Anything!
July 14th, 2026 at 9:55 am
He told WDAE last week that he’d basically give ANYTHING to be able to be on the sidelines again, and get a Head Coaching Job. I told people on here awhile back that he would’ve given ANYTHING for that USF Job… In a HEARTBEAT. When, several others on here, were acting as if “HE” was above it!? Well, those people weren’t paying attention. Even though, I already KNEW that USF was not looking to go anywhere NEAR that direction. As he was telling this to T-Krass last week… I was thinking, why doesn’t he just takeover one of these local High Schools here, then!? Build a ‘national’ POWER… IF he’s really DYING to be back on the sidelines again. Consolidate some of this local talent here in Pinellas County, and recruit some of these tall, long, and fast ELITE WR’s that Pasco County (and Hillsborough) have been producing. He should be able to get about ANY QB HE WANTS!!!! Calvary would be a GREAT SPOT for him… Though, I’d like it even better to see him at a Public school, even. He’s worked with the Clearwater HS Football Program in the past. Honestly, I don’t know WHY the Bucs didn’t hire HIM to replace Gene!? He would be been perfect. Guess that’s the problem… Made just too much sense.
July 14th, 2026 at 10:13 am
DEIA stands for Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility. They always leave off the A. I guess you look like a monster railing against accessibility.
July 14th, 2026 at 10:28 am
He’s certainly has the gift of gab. His motor mouth is not lost for words.
July 14th, 2026 at 10:32 am
I’d like to see him transition from play by play to head coach in Tampa.
Good comment by Truth.
July 14th, 2026 at 10:51 am
@ Joe Bob Pigskin – “Head Coach in Tampa.”
I’m assuming that you are meaning at the “High School” level then, right!?
July 14th, 2026 at 10:55 am
@ Stanglassman Says: “accessibility.”
“Accessibility!?” Accessibility to WHAT!? Who’s trying to hold whom back, or keeping them away from ANYTHING!? That’s nothing but just another BS word. Completely EMPTY, and meaningless. And, YOU’RE actually buying THAT!? Any of it!? Shew.
July 14th, 2026 at 11:26 am
Melvin “Accessibility!?” Is for the disabled people. It mandates reasonable accommodations, such as screen readers for digital content and wheelchair ramps, to create equitable opportunities for disabled persons.
Maybe you’re old school and think the disabled should stay out of the public and there should be no accommodations for them so they can work or go to church?
July 14th, 2026 at 11:37 am
Stanglassman. MelvinJunior is an idiot.
July 14th, 2026 at 11:42 am
It’s pretty wild that people find it acceptable that a football coach would be making racist statements to other coaches and owners. Gruden has a fun personality for football but I must admit I was shocked and disappointed that he would be doing something like that. It shouldn’t mark him for life and he did apologize about it, so it should be over by now. However, he’s not all that great of a coach for today’s NFL. The game has changed multiple times since he was. Color commentary is where he really shines.
July 14th, 2026 at 11:44 am
Gruden said privately the kind of stuff we all say privately, and a bunch of holier than thous got their g-strings in a bunch.
The Glazers graciously accepted his apology and moved on and restored him.
The NFL better take him off of the blacklist. Or they are going to pay. A Nevada jury could award $1 Billion.
If I was his attorney, I’d ask for $5 Billion.
July 14th, 2026 at 12:13 pm
Uhhh no we don’t all say that privately.
July 14th, 2026 at 12:18 pm
If there wasn’t anything wrong with it he wouldn’t have apologized. This guy was supposed to lead a group of minorities. Bad mouthing them behind their backs is not a good look to say the least.
He did apologize and it’s time to let it go (at least it is for me) but I’m sure there’s some lingering resentments out there and they are certainly justified. He does a great job as an analyst and I hope he continues.
July 14th, 2026 at 12:27 pm
Why would he want to do play by play? His strength, when he’s not endlessly fluffing players about how great they are, is breaking down what is happening and adding ‘color’ to broadcasts – thus the ‘color’ role. Play by play is great, and guys can become legends, but it’s more about just being good at calling what is happening than diagnosing what is happening. I don’t discount the idea that Gruden can do either role, but color seems like such a better natural fit.
July 14th, 2026 at 12:29 pm
Stpetematt Says:
July 14th, 2026 at 12:18 pm
If there wasn’t anything wrong with it he wouldn’t have apologized.
————-
Hey sweetheart, men tell rude jokes in private. It’s part of being a man. If you don’t do that, haven’t ever done that, it means you’ve never been a man.
July 14th, 2026 at 12:56 pm
Fir the first time ever, I agree with Rod Munch!!!
July 14th, 2026 at 1:12 pm
Gruden is an excellent announcer. He doesn’t sugar coat things and you know exactly how he feels. And he knows football.
It’s unfortunate he feels the need to go uber positive when talking about certain people who have been weighed and measured and found to be less than adequate.
Such is life. We live to play another day.
Even if it is under impending doom likely to render us incapable of ultimate victory.
July 14th, 2026 at 1:15 pm
Gruden needs to go back to MNF and replace Troy Aikman who is god awful at commentary.
July 14th, 2026 at 1:59 pm
Gruden was always meant to be the next “Madden”.
He has the same fire for football and great football IQ. If you’re listening NFL, let him be this generations “Madden”.
July 14th, 2026 at 2:22 pm
Color analyst and play-by-play are two totally separate things.
I don’t see Gruden as a play-by-play announcer. He’s a darn good color analyst, however.
Not saying he can’t do it. I’m sure he can.
But, his ability to dissect what just happened and explain it quickly and simply makes him a natural in the color analyst role.
July 14th, 2026 at 2:25 pm
I don’t want Gruden to be doing play by play, I want him taking over for Todd when everything goes in the dumpster this season.
July 14th, 2026 at 2:42 pm
Keep munching rods. I never hung out with people that felt it necessary to bring other people down to make themselves feel good. There’s lots of other ways to find humor in this world than stereotyping.
July 14th, 2026 at 3:45 pm
Look at Joe, breaking news left and right. What an absolute animal!
July 14th, 2026 at 5:05 pm
Someone with a responsibility for personnel decisions should be as unbiased as possible. If Gruden were to be put back into that kind of position, every act he took would be scrutinized and possibly litigated in light of the comments that he made.
But, a play-by-play announcer does not have that kind of responsibility. The role is to inform and entertain and sustain audience engagement so that they do not change channels.
Gruden’s current gigs show that Gruden can inform and entertain and sustain audience engagement without, so far as I am aware, putting his foot and leg in his mouth and out the other end of his alimentary canal.
He could even come up with a trademark mea culpa. Maybe something like, “Hang on everybody because we are about to get started with the game. I have no idea what may come out of my mouth, but I don’t mean to hurt anyone, and we are all going to have lots of fun because it’s time for football!!!”
July 14th, 2026 at 6:32 pm
🚨
MelvinJunior Says:
July 14th, 2026 at 9:55 am
He told WDAE last week that he’d basically give ANYTHING to be able to be on the sidelines again, and get a Head Coaching Job. I told people on here awhile back that he would’ve given ANYTHING for that USF Job… In a HEARTBEAT. When, several others on here, were acting as if “HE” was above it!? Well, those people weren’t paying attention. Even though, I already KNEW that USF was not looking to go anywhere NEAR that direction. As he was telling this to T-Krass last week… I was thinking, why doesn’t he just takeover one of these local High Schools here, then!? Build a ‘national’ POWER… IF he’s really DYING to be back on the sidelines again. Consolidate some of this local talent here in Pinellas County, and recruit some of these tall, long, and fast ELITE WR’s that Pasco County (and Hillsborough) have been producing. He should be able to get about ANY QB HE WANTS!!!! Calvary would be a GREAT SPOT for him… Though, I’d like it even better to see him at a Public school, even. He’s worked with the Clearwater HS Football Program in the past. Honestly, I don’t know WHY the Bucs didn’t hire HIM to replace Gene!? He would be been perfect. Guess that’s the problem… Made just too much sense.
🚨🚨
Melvin, I read this twice and I’m still not sure what point you’re arguing. 😂 Are you saying Gruden should coach USF, coach Clearwater High, Waterboy for Armwood High, coach Calvary, or replace Gene Deckerhoff? Pick one play call because this drive has gone from Tampa, to Seffner, to Pinellas to Pasco and back again.
Respectfully, can someone interpret Melvin‘s take to plain English please.
🔥 LFG!
July 14th, 2026 at 8:46 pm
@ Stanglassman – Whatever, Dude. NOBODY was talking about anything to do with “ACCESSIBILITY” for the freaking elderly, or disabled. GTFO. It’s all you people think about. Even, when it is completely IRRELEVANT. I mean, WTF!? Buncha Weirdos.
July 14th, 2026 at 8:48 pm
Just trying to make up and INVENT issues, and problems, even when there AREN’T ANY. Absolutely, nothing to see here… So, NEXT.
July 14th, 2026 at 8:57 pm
Hey, Melvin. Gruden would be better than KitKat man.
July 14th, 2026 at 8:57 pm
@ BoriMex – I said that he should do what HE wants to do. If HE wants to “coach” again, then he should go and Coach HS Football. That, he is NOT getting a ‘higher-level’ COLLEGE Football Job. Annnnddd, I ALSO SAID, that I “HE” would’ve been the perfect fit to replace GENE. But, that didn’t happen, RIGHT!? At least NOT YET, anyways. SO… Then, that would only leave COACHING HS FOOTBALL left, right!? Pretty cut and dry. I said, that HE told T-KRASS that “HE” was DYING to be on the sidelines, again… AND, that “HE” (like I said months ago) would JUMP at the chance of taking over that USF JOB (in a “heartbeat” too, when OTHERS on here, acted as IF he was above it LoL – I said, THEY weren’t paying attention). Again, pretty simple.
July 14th, 2026 at 9:00 pm
@ Joe Bob Pigskin – Oh, yeah!? Whoa.. You really GOT ME THERE, on that one Hahah. Once, again… IRRELEVANT.
July 14th, 2026 at 9:03 pm
By FAR!
July 14th, 2026 at 9:30 pm
Can’t remember where Chucky said this but it was in the past year, that he has no desire to coach college football. He would be a disaster in college. He doesn’t want to recruit and he has zero patience for the job. Besides, he mocks spread option ball but that’s pretty much all the high school kids no. And Chucky doesn’t have the patience to teach 19-year olds a west coast offense (which is very complicated for adults, forget kids).
And what mother is going to trust Chucky with his email scandal to watch her son?
Shoot, he’s out golfing and fishing damn near every day. He has no desire to throw that away while getting paid by Barstool.
July 14th, 2026 at 10:33 pm
Thanks, Joe. I knew I wasn’t going crazy. This clears up MelvinJunior’s confusion perfectly. Wanting to coach again and wanting to coach college are two completely different things. I’ll go ahead and cancel my appointment with the psychiatrist now. 😄
🔥 LFG!
💍 Ring Me!!
🧌 ❌
July 15th, 2026 at 8:56 pm
I’m ok with Gruden, he loves the Bucs and got us a Super Bowl win, with one of the greatest rosters the Bucs have had. He’s def better than others.
Just in a side note I agree with the comments on Aikman but no one mentioned how annoying Romeo is. Someone should replace him, he’s such a headache.