Jon Gruden is a well-known name that frequently emerges in the head coaching cycle each year. This is the case once again for this season, as he has been rumored to be connected to a struggling AFC team. An NFL analyst recently opposed the idea of him being a strong candidate to fill their potential vacancy in the upcoming offseason.
Jon Gruden Rumors Shut Down by NFL Analyst
Gruden has a ton of previous success as a head coach, including winning a Super Bowl ring with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He most recently served in the same position for the Las Vegas Raiders, but has been out of the NFL since 2021 and has since worked as a media personality.
Gruden was recently floated as a rumored candidate to join the Cleveland Browns as their next head coach, potentially replacing Kevin Stefanski if the franchise were to part ways with him in the offseason following another disappointing year. Tony Rizzo explained why he has no confidence that this situation will be successful.
“The ship has sailed, I think Pete Carroll learned the hard way, once you get out and get older … it’s a grind, it’s a young man’s game,” exclaimed Rizzo.
Rizz is NOT interested in Jon Gruden as the Browns next HC…
Do you agree? https://t.co/aGlwbojEDm pic.twitter.com/lpO5yw3u5X
— ESPN Cleveland (@ESPNCleveland) December 16, 2025
Pete Carroll came out of retirement this year to take the job as the Raiders’ head coach, but has struggled to a 2-12 record. Rizzo used this as an example for why he doesn’t believe that Gruden is a good fit with the Browns, or any team, theoretically.
He hasn’t coached in any of the past three NFL seasons and will be 63 years old when the next one kicks off.
Stefanski has also yet to be fired by the Browns, though he has been rumored to be firmly in the hot seat. They have just a 3-11 record this year amid their ongoing struggles to find a reliable starting quarterback.
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The team is on their third starter in just this year alone, and that’s not even counting Deshaun Watson, who has yet to play this season as he continues to recover from an Achilles injury.
Shedeur Sanders is their current starter, and while the rookie has shown upside, he has also been highly inconsistent. This includes a disastrous performance against the Chicago Bears in his most recent start, when he recorded zero touchdowns and three interceptions. He currently ranks 36th among all quarterbacks in PFSN’s Impact Rankings.
It remains to be seen if the Browns will fire Stefanski, and even if they do hire Gruden to replace him, they will still need an answer at quarterback. Sanders may be it, but regardless, whoever the head coach is, this situation should be their top priority.
