Jon Gruden didn’t hold back: he wants to return to coaching — and he wants to do it in the SEC.
Speaking recently to the Georgia Bulldogs, the former Super Bowl–winning head coach told the team he’s eager to get back on the sidelines and has his eyes on college football’s toughest conference.
“The only reason I really came here is I want to coach again,” Gruden said during the speaking engagement. “I’m being honest with you, I do not bulls***, either. I want to coach again. I’d die to coach in the SEC. I would love it. I would f---ing love it.”
The idea of Gruden coaching in the SEC isn’t new. Years ago, Tennessee fans fueled “Grumors” when speculation swirled that he might land in Knoxville. Instead, he returned to the NFL in 2018 with the Las Vegas Raiders after a decade away from the league.
That stint ended abruptly in 2021, midway through his fourth season, when emails containing disparaging remarks surfaced during the NFL’s investigation into the Washington Commanders. Since then, Gruden has remained connected to the sport and now works with Barstool Sports.
While a return to the SEC would certainly draw headlines, another possibility could see him follow in the footsteps of Bill Belichick at UNC and Frank Reich at Stanford — jumping to the ACC instead.
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That’s the scenario ESPN’s Peter Burns floated on X.
“Virginia Tech HC Jon Gruden just seems so right for 2026,” Burns wrote.
Virginia Tech has struggled to recapture the success it enjoyed under longtime coach Frank Beamer. Since his retirement in 2016, the Hokies have had just four winning seasons, only one under current coach Brent Pry.
Pry enters 2025 with a 16-21 record and mounting pressure. It’s unclear what benchmark would secure his job, but reaching eight wins — which would be a career best — could help.
If Gruden is serious about returning, the ACC has become something of a landing spot for former NFL coaches seeking redemption. For a program like Virginia Tech, he could bring both name recognition and a shot at revitalizing the Hokies.