Former Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Jon Gruden made his return to the broadcast booth on Saturday night. The Buccaneers hosted the Kansas City Chiefs in a preseason matchup, with Gruden joining the booth for the home team’s WFLA-TV broadcast.
The former football coach and longtime media personality’s return to a broadcast booth was met with widespread approval over the weekend.
Jon Gruden’s Return Sparks Nostalgia
Gruden spent nearly a decade in ESPN’s Monday Night Football booth and became one of the network’s most recognizable and popular football broadcasters. His latest appearance represented his first major live booth assignment since leaving ESPN’s MNF after the 2017 season to return to the sidelines as the Oakland Raiders’ head coach.
NFL fans quickly embraced Gruden’s return to the commentary booth during the Bucs-Chiefs preseason broadcast.
“Jon Gruden needs to get back in the booth,” one fan wrote.
“I sound biased when I say this obviously but I promise yall, I’m not, but Jon Gruden being back calling a game just feels right,” one comment read.
I sound bias when I say this obviously but I promise yall im not, but Jon Gruden being back calling a game just feels right #bucs pic.twitter.com/WjKFLlRtR4
— JJ Gruden (@TakingThePoint5) August 22, 2026
“I’ve missed Gruden announcing so much, best in the game,” one person remarked.
I’ve missed gruden announcing so much, best in the game. https://t.co/7XU1P3lBTt
— smileh (@EevVji47743) August 22, 2026
For many viewers, hearing Gruden’s familiar voice on an official NFL broadcast brought back memories of a primetime football era when his energetic commentary became a major part of the viewing experience.
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“Jon Gruden calling the Bucs game is just awesome…..This dude should be a forever hire in that program… Same with ole boy Rhonde Barber. Dudes just bleed Bucs….. I love it,” one fan noted.
“I’m watching the Buccaneers game purely for the Gruden entertainment value!” another observer claimed.
Football is better with Gruden! https://t.co/9l9XWUOIbC
— 𝗝𝗼𝘀𝗵 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗸𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱 (@joshbstrickland) August 22, 2026
Apart from Gruden, Ronde Barber also joined the broadcast team at Raymond James Stadium. Having Barber alongside Gruden made the booth an especially appealing combination for Buccaneers fans, given both men’s strong connections to the franchise.
The opportunity became available after the Buccaneers’ usual preseason play-by-play voice, Chris Myers, ran into a scheduling conflict. However, Myers is still expected to call Tampa Bay’s preseason road game against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Gruden spent seven seasons as the Buccaneers’ head coach and guided the franchise to its first Super Bowl championship during the 2002-03 NFL season. Meanwhile, Barber was a standout cornerback for the team and became one of the most recognizable players of that era.
