Former NFL coach Jon Gruden reportedly turned down a chance to join the Jets’ coaching staff.
Gruden, who has not coached since he resigned as head coach of the Raiders in 2021, was contacted by Gang Green about the ex-coach joining Aaron Glenn’s staff. Gruden, however, told the organization he wasn’t interested, The Athletic’s Zack Rosenblatt reported.
The report did not indicate what role Gruden would have held on Glenn’s staff.
Gruden’s reported decision comes after the news that offensive coordinator Tanner Engstrand would not be brought back for the 2026 season.
Gruden, who now works for Barstool Sports, has not publicly commented on the report, but that didn’t stop the outlet’s founder, Dave Portnoy, from chiming in.
“Top 1 most insulting job offers of all time,” Portnoy posted on social media after the report surfaced.
The Jets, in Aaron Glenn’s first season at the helm, are coming off a season in which they went 3-14 and landed the No. 2 pick in the NFL draft.
Even before Engstrand’s exit, Glenn made changes to his coaching staff, getting rid of six assistants on Friday.
noti.group’s Brian Costello reported Tuesday that Glenn had spoken with former Colts and Panthers coach Frank Reich about the offensive coordinator position.
Gruden has not coached in the NFL since emails of his were published by the Wall Street Journal and the New York Times, showing Gruden using racist, sexist and anti-gay language in messages sent to then-Commanders general manager Bruce Allen in the years before Gruden’s coaching tenure in Las Vegas.
After his departure, he served as a consultant for the Saints in 2023 and an adviser for Milano Seamen of the European League of Football in 2024.
Gruden holds a 117-112 record with the Raiders and Buccaneers, and led Tampa Bay to a Super Bowl title in the 2002 season.
[Notigroup Newsroom in collaboration with other media outlets, with information from the following sources]
