Jon Gruden wants to return to the broadcast booth in a different capacity.
The former NFL head coach spent nearly a decade working Monday Night Football games as a color commentator for ESPN. Now employed by Barstool Sports, Gruden revealed on The Ira Kaufman Podcastthat he would like to try play-by-play announcing.
"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."
Fans react to Gruden's play-by-play dreams
Some observers are interested in the possibility of Gruden returning in a different broadcasting capacity.
"Yeaaaaa bring him back!" a fan declared on social media.
"Why not?!" hockey play-by-play announcer Phil Giubileo asked. "Honestly, I have no idea of Gruden would be a good play-by-play announcer, but if he's really interested in doing it, I would imagine he'd put in the requisite work to learn how to properly call games."
"If he's going back to the broadcast booth, Monday Night Football is about to get electric again," a fan claimed.
However, not everyone is convinced Gruden can handle the responsibilities of play-by-play announcing. Others simply aren't interested in hearing him back in the booth.
"Gruden either has no idea what the difference is in the craft of doing play-by-play compared to being an analyst or he’s simply out of his mind," Mike J. Asti of WV Sports said.
"Hard pass," a fan declared.
Gruden left ESPN to return to the sideline and coach the Raiders in 2018. Three years later, he was forced to resign after the publication of leaked emails in which he made racist, misogynistic, and anti-gay comments.
The Super Bowl champion hasn't landed a new coaching gig since. Gruden is currently suing the NFL and Commissioner Roger Goodell, claiming the emails were intentionally leaked to damage his reputation.
