Jon Gruden joked about studying NASCAR after failing to secure an NFL coaching job
Gruden made the comments at the Daytona 500 while speaking with FOX Sports' Michael Waltrip
Since resigning from the Raiders in 2021, Gruden hasn't interviewed with any NFL team
Gruden has taken on minor coaching roles and media work since leaving the NFL
📖 Full Retelling
Former NFL head coach Jon Gruden joked about a potential career shift to NASCAR while speaking with FOX Sports' Michael Waltrip at the Daytona 500 on Sunday, revealing his frustration over being unable to secure a coaching position in football since resigning from the Las Vegas Raiders in 2021 amid an email scandal. During the interview, Gruden quipped, 'It's unbelievable. You guys start the season with the Super Bowl. This is the greatest event ever. I can't get a job coaching, so I'm studying NASCAR now.' Despite claiming to study NASCAR, Gruden couldn't resist applying his football expertise when asked for advice to give driver Bubba Wallace, suggesting, 'Go trips right, make a left and then if you can't find it, call an audible.' The comment highlighted his background in football while showing his willingness to adapt to a new sport. Gruden's appearance at the prestigious NASCAR event included attending a driver's meeting alongside former NFL great Marshawn Lynch and receiving merchandise from driver Austin Dillon. Since his resignation from the Raiders, Gruden has struggled to return to coaching, with no NFL team interviews and unsuccessful attempts to join the college ranks. He has taken on minor roles, including a non-full-time advisor position with the New Orleans Saints in 2023 and serving as head coach in the Hula Bowl in January. Additionally, Gruden has been working with Barstool Sports since 2024, making regular appearances on FS1's 'Wake Up Barstool.' His NASCAR comments suggest he remains open to various opportunities in sports media or coaching across different disciplines.
Form of journalism that reports on sporting topics and competitions
Sports journalism is a form of writing that reports on sporting topics and competitions.
The appetite for sports resulted in sports-only media such as Sports Illustrated and ESPN. There are many different forms of sports journalism, ranging from play-by-play and game recaps to analysis and investiga...
The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing, LLC (NASCAR) is an American auto racing sanctioning and operating company that is best known for stock car racing. It is considered to be one of the top-ranked motorsports organizations in the world and is one of the largest spectator sports league...
National Football League franchise in the Las Vegas metropolitan area
The Las Vegas Raiders are a professional American football team based in the Las Vegas metropolitan area. The Raiders compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the American Football Conference (AFC) West division. The team plays its home games at Allegiant Stadium in Paradise, Nev...
Jon David Gruden (born August 17, 1963) is an American former football coach and media personality, currently employed by Barstool Sports.
After beginning his coaching career in the college ranks and working as a position coach and as an offensive coordinator in the National Football League (NFL) fo...
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Original Source
Jon Gruden is desperate to get a headset back on, even willing to switch sports to do so. The Super Bowl-winning head coach teased a possible move to NASCAR when he spoke with FOX Sports' Michael Waltrip ahead of Sunday's Daytona 500. "It's unbelievable. You guys start the season with the Super Bowl. This is the greatest event ever. I can't get a job coaching, so I'm studying NASCAR now," Gruden said. While Gruden exclaimed that he's studying NASCAR, he still relied on his football knowledge when Waltrip asked him what advice to give Bubba Wallace ahead of The Great American Race. "Go trips right, make a left and then if you can't find it, call an audible," Gruden said. Close enough, Gruden. Maybe he can now run his own driver's camp for up-and-coming NASCAR drivers, just as he did for quarterback prospects ahead of the NFL Draft? Or could Gruden help run a team to success, just like he did when he was the head coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2002? The possibilities of what Gruden could do in NASCAR are certainly limitless. But the former Las Vegas Raiders head coach certainly seemed to be enjoying himself in Daytona on Sunday, attending a driver's meeting alongside former NFL great Marshawn Lynch and getting some swag from Austin Dillon. Gruden has had trouble landing a coaching job in football after he resigned as head coach of the Raiders amid an email scandal in October 2021. He hasn't interviewed with an NFL team since then and has expressed an interest in coaching the college game, but to no avail. However, he's had some minor coaching roles, serving in a non-full-time advisor role for the New Orleans Saints in 2023 before working as a head coach in the Hula Bowl in January. Gruden has also worked with Barstool Sports since 2024, making frequent appearances on FS1's "Wake Up Barstool."
