Jon Gruden has been named the new head coach of the Oakland Raiders, bringing back one of the Silver and Black’s most respected and accomplished coaches in franchise history. Gruden, who was hired as the Raiders’ head coach for the first time 20 years ago, spent four seasons with the team from 1998 to 2001.

At the time of his initial hire by Raiders owner Al Davis in 1998, Gruden was the NFL’s youngest head coach, having compiled a 38-26 (.594) record and leading the Silver and Black to back-to-back AFC West titles in 2000 and 2001. Continue reading to discover more about this accomplished coach. To begin, review the following quick facts about Joe.

Jon Gruden’s Childhood and Education

Jon Gruden was born in Sandusky, Ohio on 17 August 1963 into a family of Slovenian ancestors. His father, Jim, later worked for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as a professional regional football scout, quarterbacks coach, and player staff director.

However, Jon’s father, Jay, played and coached in the Arena Football League and most recently served as the Washington Redskins’ head coach. To our surprise, his brother, James, is a radiology resident at Weill Cornell Medicine.

Gruden was raised as a Roman Catholic and grew up a Cleveland Browns fan. At the age of 15, he attended Clay High School in South Bend, Indiana, the home of Notre Dame University, where his father worked as an assistant coach to head coach Dan Devine.

Jon graduated from Muskingum College in New Concord, Ohio in 1981. He was a three-year letterman and backup quarterback for the Flyers at Dayton under coach Mike Kelly.

Joe Gruden’s Age, Height, and Body Dimensions

Jon is a tall white man standing at 1.78 m and weighing 91 kg. He is well-built and has a dashing personality. Given his position as a coach, there is no doubt that he is physically fit and appears to have an athletic build.

Relationships & Marriage with Jon Gruden

The head coach of the Oakland Raiders is married. He is currently married to Cindy Brooks. Additionally, Gruden and she share three children.

Gruden is blessed and committed to his wife Cindy. His wife previously served as the head coach of a National Cheerleader Association team.

She is a philanthropist who, along with her husband, supports various causes and organizes activities in support of them.

How Did They Come to Meet?

According to sources, the young couple met during their college years and immediately fell in love. There are surprisingly few instances in which you marry college lovers who go on to become major celebrities.

Jon along with his wife

Their friendship was as endearing as their proposal. Gruden spent $1,800 on a ring that mesmerized his soon-to-be wife. Indeed, he was not interested in sparing any expense when it came to proposing, preferring to spend it all on his future wife.

Proposed Conditions Submitted by Jon

Additionally, while they were still dating, Gruden made it clear that he would not marry her until he could secure a full-time position as a coach at a university. As he stated, he invested the entire sum in his bank account, purchasing a ring for her when he obtained the work.

Fast forward to their wedding, which took place on 6 July 1991. It has been more than twenty-six years since then.

Jon accompanied by his family

Given the couple’s nearly two-decade-long union, what makes fans fall in love with them even more is the fantastic fact that their relationship is free of controversy.

Gruden and Brooks share three children. Deuce Gruden, their first child, was born on 19 January 1994. Unlike his father, Deuce took a different path and even competed in the International Powerlifting Federation’s Minsk World Classic Powerlifting Championships.

They also have two other sons, Michael Gruden and Jayson Gruden, whose birth dates are unknown.

Jon’s wife is a mother of three.

“My middle son, Michael, who will be a freshman at Tennessee this fall, and then my youngest son, Jayson, who was in the quarterback camp,” the father shared in 2018. The family is content and shows no signs of strife. Jon and his wife, along with their children, are living a wonderful life and appear to be content.

Professional Career of Jon Gruden

Gruden has an illustrious and lengthy career. Here, we’ll discuss Jon’s career as a coach and broadcaster in chronological order. Let us begin with his coaching career at the collegiate level.

Jon Gruden ‘s Coaching Experience

• Years Coached a College/Professional Team Position:1986–1987
• Graduate Assistant at the University of Tennessee
• 1988 Coordinator of the Southeast Missouri State Passing Game
• 1989 Wide Receivers at the University of the Pacific
• 1990 San Francisco 49ers Asst. Offensive
• Wide Receivers at the University of Pittsburgh in 1991
• 1992 Assistant Offensive Lineman for the Green Bay Packers
• Wide Receivers for the Green Bay Packers in 1993-1994
• From 1995 to 1997, he served as the offensive coordinator for the Philadelphia Eagles.
• Coach of the Oakland Raiders from 1998 to 2001
• Coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers from 2002 to 2008.

Gruden was hired as a graduate assistant coach at the University of Tennessee during the 1985–86 season after graduating from the University of Dayton. He spent two years as a quarterback coach at Southeast Missouri State following his tenure with the Volunteers.

In 1989, Gruden accepted a position as an offensive assistant and tight-end coach at Pacific University. Gruden was one of his graduate assistant coaches at Tennessee, and Walt Harris, who later hired him at Pacific, was the offensive coordinator.

Jon squats

In 1990, Gruden worked as a special assistant to quarterback coach Mike Holmgren with the San Francisco 49ers. Gruden joined the University of Pittsburgh’s staff as a big receiver coach in March 1991, reporting to head coach Paul Hackett.

Coaching for Professionals

Gruden was hired as the Green Bay Packers’ outstanding offensive assistant/wide receiver coach in January 1992, at the age of 28 by Mike Holmgren, his former San Francisco 49ers boss.

Jon Gruden – As a member of the Oakland Raiders

Gruden guided the Raiders to consecutive 8–8 seasons in 1998 and 1999, vaulting them out of last place in the AFC West. Oakland, on the other hand, finished 12–4 in 2000, the team’s best season in a decade and its first division title since 1990.

The Raiders qualified for the playoffs three consecutive seasons from 2000 to 2002, but were defeated in 2001 by the eventual Super Bowl champions, the New England Patriots.

Gruden earned the nickname “Chucky” from Raiders defensive lineman Grady Jackson, who believed the coach resembled the fictional character ‘Chucky’ in the 1988 slasher film Child’s Play.

After three seasons in Green Bay, Jon became the offensive coordinator for the Philadelphia Eagles under former Packers assistant coach Ray Rhodes. Gruden was then unexpectedly hired as the Raiders’ new head coach for the 1998 season by Oakland Raiders owner and general manager Al Davis.

The Most Inexperienced Head Coach, Jon Gruden

Gruden became the Super Bowl’s youngest head coach with the victory at the age of 39. Gruden’s 2002 season slogan was “Pound the Rock,” a reference to his dedication to the running game.

The squad was decimated by injuries, including those to several Super Bowl stars, including Greg Spires, Joe Jurevicius, Shelton Quarles, and Brian Kelly, which resulted in veteran rivalry.

Jon with on-field players

However, the Buccaneers finished 7–9 in 2003 and 5–11 in 2004, becoming the first team since Super Bowl XXXVII to have consecutive losing seasons. The team’s final victory in Super Bowl XLIII came on Monday Night Football, 38–35 over the Indianapolis Colts.

Jon Gruden volunteered as an assistant offensive line coach at Tampa’s Carrollwood Day School. Gruden founded the Fired Football Coaches Association in 2010. The organization operated out of a rented office space in a Tampa strip mall.

Although numerous coaches attended the screening and spoke with Gruden, including Chip Kelly, Urban Meyer, Jim Haslett, Rick Venturi, Sean McVay, Greg Schiano, and Monte Kiffin, Gruden closed the FFCA upon his return to coaching in 2018.

Raiders of Oakland / Las Vegas

Even though Gruden had stepped away from coaching in the NFL for nine years, the Raiders announced his return as head coach on 6 January 2018. Gruden agreed to a ten-year, $100 million contract, one of the most lucrative in league history. The team finished 4-12 in his first year back.

On-field Fanfare

Gruden guided the Raiders to a 6-4 record, largely due to an unbreakable and robust rookie class. However, after numerous key players sustained injuries, the team finished 1-5 and 7-9 in their final season in Oakland.

The contract includes a no-trade clause, effectively closing the loophole that allowed the Raiders to trade him to the Buccaneers in exchange for draft picks and cash.

Jon Gruden ‘s Career in Broadcasting

ESPN hired Gruden as a color analyst for Monday Night Football telecasts in May 2009. Additionally, he has called college soccer games for ESPN, including the 2010 Rose Bowl and 2010 BCS National Championship Game.

On the Microphone

Gruden signed a contract extension with ESPN in September 2012, extending his contract until 2021. His final game for ESPN was the AFC Wild Card game between the Kansas City Chiefs and Tennessee Titans in 2017.

Jon chose to return to the coaching ranks with the Raiders for the 2018 NFL season after retiring from ESPN following the 2017 season. He is ESPN’s highest-paid executive, earning $9 million per year.

Additionally, Jon Gruden has returned to the Raiders, and he has stated that he never considered leaving at first. According to sources, Gruden signed a ten-year deal worth $10 million with the Raiders.

“I never desired to depart from the Raiders. I never imagined I’d return. However, here I am, prepared to get to work. Additionally, I adore the Raiders. The brand is global in scope. Everywhere I traveled as a Monday Night Football analyst, Raider nation erupted.”

Additionally, when Gruden signed a ten-year contract with the team, he stated that he would not accept money if he could not get things done. He did not, however, elaborate on the ‘things’ he meant.

Gruden will earn a total of $100 million over the course of his ten-year contract.

Jon Gruden: Quick Facts