Darren Waller Reveals Whether His Former Raiders HC Jon Gruden Wants To Coach Again

Is Jon Gruden destined for another head coaching job in the NFL? Gruden has been out of the head coaching ranks for some time, but he’s not out of the NFL picture at all.

Gruden, in fact, got a boost in a potential return to the sidelines from one of his former players who was on Gruden’s team when he coached the now-Las Vegas Raiders.

Darren Waller Advocates for Jon Gruden’s Return to Coaching

Darren Waller, who came out of retirement this season to play for the Miami Dolphins, made it pretty clear that Gruden wants another crack at being an NFL head coach. Waller appeared as a guest on the “Up & Adams” show with host Kay Adams. Adams asked Waller about Gruden’s desire to return to the sidelines.

“Oh yeah, Gruden wants another job,” Waller said. “That’s a fact. Just the time with him and going down to Florida and doing his show, staying at his house and stuff. Like, that’s my guy. He helped change my career. I wouldn’t have had an opportunity to still be here talking and playing if it wasn’t for him taking a chance on me.

“But he definitely wants to coach again,” Waller said. “I feel like he’s still got the passion and energy to do so. I’d suit up with Gru any day. Man, like we had a good run together. But yeah, he’s somebody that definitely wants to coach. Loves ball, loves his guys. I really hope he gets another chance.”

“[Jon Gruden] wants another job, that’s a fact.”

Darren Waller on his former coach@Rackkwall83 | @heykayadams pic.twitter.com/AYtVHHxKA9

— Up & Adams (@UpAndAdamsShow) January 7, 2026

As far as coaching in 2026, when Adams asked Waller, he stated that he had no idea. “I don’t really believe in cancel culture,” Waller said. “I believe in people getting opportunities to come back and have another opportunity, especially if they’re qualified to do so. And I think Gru is.

“That 2021 season with the Raiders when he got, when they clipped him, we were going and he was coaching his a** off. I don’t know man, I think he deserves another opportunity. If it’s this year, I don’t know. I don’t know what people are thinking, executives are thinking. Give my dog a chance.”

Waller played five seasons for the Raiders’ organization. In that 2021 season, which Waller referred to in his interview with Adams, he had 55 receptions for 665 yards and two touchdown catches. Waller began his career with the Baltimore Ravens, then moved to the Raiders before joining the New York Giants.

Waller retired after the 2023 NFL season and sat out the entire 2024 season. However, he decided to return and play for the Dolphins, where he caught 24 passes for 283 yards and six touchdowns.

According to the PFSN NFL TE Impact metrics, Waller didn’t have enough data to have an impact score or grade. Miami tight end Julian Hill, though, had an impact score of 70.2 and graded out to a C-. It’s unclear whether Waller will return to play next season, but he likely would not mind doing so if Gruden secures another head coaching job in the NFL.