Overview
- Jon Gruden told the Ira Kaufman Podcast he wants to move from color analyst to play-by-play after nine years in the booth, a comment first reported by JoeBucsFan and picked up across outlets.
- Tampa Bay reporter Ira Kaufman said on WDAE that Gruden is slated to handle play-by-play for an NFL preseason game in about a month, though specific date, teams, network, and whether he will call a full game have not been confirmed.
- Gruden resigned as Raiders coach in October 2021 after emails with racist, misogynistic, and homophobic language were published, and he is currently pursuing civil litigation against the NFL and Commissioner Roger Goodell.
- Those legal and reputational issues make mainstream NFL rights holders unlikely hires, which helps explain why a preseason or lower-tier college broadcast outside the league’s direct control is the most practical way to test his play-by-play ability.
- Watch for a formal announcement naming the game and broadcaster because the outcome will show whether Gruden can carry a broadcast, affect his media value with nontraditional outlets like Barstool and YouTube, and influence any future coaching or TV options.