Gruden to Coach in the SEC?

Gruden to Coach in the SEC? originally appeared on Athlon Sports.

Jon Gruden has been in and out of coaching since he started as a graduate assistant in the SEC back in 1986 with the Tennessee Volunteers. Since 1989, all his coaching stints have been in the National Football League.

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Now at 61, Gruden appears to have the itch to return to college football. Gruden, still a consultant with the New Orleans Saints, last coached the Las Vegas Raiders from 2018 to 2021. He’s a Super Bowl champion head coach and part of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Ring of Honor.

Gruden recently visited several programs preparing for the 2025 season, the latest being in Athens, Georgia, with Kirby Smart and the Bulldogs. While there, he revealed he wants to coach again, and this time in the SEC.

“I’m being honest with you,” Gruden said. “I do not [expletive] either. I want to coach again. I’d die to coach in the SEC. I would love it. I would [expletive] love it.

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“I sit there and I fantasize — I’m fantasizing on the practice field. Man, I wish I was coaching against the SEC. I want to come to Georgia, between the hedges. I’m fantasizing about going up against Kirby Smart. I’m an offensive coach you see. I’m over there fantasizing about coming down here and beating Georgia in the hedges. That’s what I’m fantasizing about. Because whether you like it or not, you’re the [expletive] measuring stick that I base my whole career on as a coach.”

Where Could Jon Gruden Land as Next Head Coach?

Let the speculation begin. Gruden has made it clear he wants to get back into coaching, and specifically in the SEC. The question is, where would he fit within the 16-team league? Here are some possibilities:

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• Arkansas Razorbacks: This could be the favorite to land Gruden heading into the 2025 season. Gruden made comments over the summer after receiving a care package from the Razorbacks program. While Sam Pittman has gone 30-31 in Fayetteville, there’s little buzz around the Hogs program compared to the 1990s. The tradition is there, and a football-crazed campus is something Gruden would thrive on. When Bobby Petrino was fired, Gruden was a hot name among Razorbacks fans.

• Mississippi State Bulldogs: Jeff Lebby is there now, but he’s gone 2-10 during his time in Starkville. Another poor season could lead to speculation, especially if a 61-year-old Super Bowl-winning coach is openly interested.

• Auburn Tigers: Another program with history. Hugh Freeze is on the hot seat. He’s 11-14 in two seasons with the Tigers and owed $6.5 million. Patience has worn thin as Auburn hasn’t won a bowl game since 2018.

• Oklahoma Sooners: It hasn’t gone the way Brent Venables imagined after taking over for Bob Stoops. The Sooners have struggled offensively under Venables, which hasn’t sat well with fans in Norman. He hopes John Mateer can turn things around in 2025, but if not, the seat will be hot.

2025 SEC Opening Weekend

As always, the SEC is expected to be a gauntlet from top to bottom. Ole Miss and Kentucky open conference play on Sept. 6. The first busy weekend of SEC action comes Sept. 13, with four conference games:

• Vanderbilt at South Carolina

Related: Ryan Day Expected to Add Veteran Coach to Ohio State Staff

Related: Former SEC QB Was ‘Balling’ In NFL Debut on Saturday

This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Aug 9, 2025, where it first appeared.