3 Reasons Why Jon Gruden Can be a Perfect Fit for Browns’ Head Coaching Job

The National Football League enters Week 11, and there have been some big vacancies already. The Tennessee Titans parted ways with Brian Callahan in Week 6, while the New York Giants fired Brian Daboll after their Week 10 loss. Meanwhile, a lot of head coaches are on the hot seat, Cleveland Browns’ Kevin Stefanski being a top contender.

The Cleveland Browns are one of the weakest teams in the league, haunted by the same quarterback inconsistency that has followed them for a long time now. From Johnny Manziel to Deshaun Watson, the Browns have suffered with poor decisions by the quarterbacks and sometimes from the management, like trading away a star like Baker Mayfield.

The 2025 offseason started with six quarterbacks in the packed QB room, before they traded a couple before the season started. After starting with veteran and 2023 CPOY Joe Flacco, the Browns quickly disposed of him to the Cincinnati Bengals.

The Browns now have three quarterbacks left: rookies Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders, and the injured Watson. Gabriel, who’s been starting for some weeks now, hasn’t shown any progress compared to Flacco, and the Browns are 2-7. The worsening numbers have fans speculating and calling for the removal of Stefanski.

Amid the same, one of the big names who is being pushed up as potential replacements is the highly controversial Jon Gruden. Gruden, who has won accolades with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, resigned from the league in 2021 after he was accused of sending messages of a racist and homophobic nature.

Four years later, Gruden has said that he is itching to return to the sidelines since his role in the NFL has been limited to consultant. With the Browns being potential suitors, here are three reasons why Gruden might be the best option to replace Stefanski.

Jon Gruden grew up as a Browns fan

Long before his Super Bowl victory and successful broadcasting career, Jon Gruden’s football journey began in Sandusky, Ohio, where his love for the game and for the Cleveland Browns first took root.

Gruden’s deep Ohio ties make him more than just a candidate; they make him a natural fit for the city and its fans. He once said:

I was a big Cleveland Browns fan. That was my team. My dad was a high school coach in Ohio at Galion High School. We went to Browns training camp every year. I still have a Leroy Kelly autographed picture in my house. I love Ohio. Went to Dayton. Love Ohio football.

Almost a decade and a half ago, when the Browns’ coaching position opened, Jim Gruden, Jon Gruden’s father, made a point that his son would be a perfect fit, citing his closeness to the franchise. His appreciation for tradition, even his preference for the old Browns uniforms, aligns with the franchise’s roots. His Ohio upbringing, deep football lineage, and unmatched passion for the game could make him uniquely positioned to reignite the Browns’ competitive spirit.

Jon Gruden has a Super Bowl trophy

Jon Gruden’s coaching career, spanning over three decades, is marked by a wealth of experience and significant achievements across college and professional football. After graduating from the University of Dayton, Gruden began his coaching journey as a graduate assistant at the University of Tennessee, later serving in key offensive roles at Southeast Missouri State, Pacific, and Pittsburgh.

His rise in the NFL began in 1992 with the Green Bay Packers under Mike Holmgren, followed by a successful stint as offensive coordinator for the Philadelphia Eagles. Gruden earned national recognition as the head coach of the Oakland Raiders, leading them to consecutive playoff appearances and an AFC Championship Game.

In 2002, he was traded to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, where he guided the franchise to its first-ever Super Bowl victory in his debut season, becoming the youngest head coach to win a Super Bowl at the time. Following his initial success, Gruden left the coaching sphere and entered the broadcasting industry before returning to the Raiders for a second stint in his coaching career.

Jon Gruden can spruce up the Cleveland Browns like he did with the Bucs in ’02

Jon Gruden’s 2002 campaign with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers remains a benchmark in coaching excellence. Upon arrival, Gruden transformed a stagnant offense by blending his precise West Coast passing system with a strong running game, anchored by Michael Pittman and Mike Alstott.

Gruden had an idea of what to keep and what to discard. He retained Monte Kiffin and the “Tampa 2” defensive scheme, a decision that provided them huge gains later on.

Gruden’s leadership ended Tampa’s notorious cold-weather curse with a defining 15–0 win over the Chicago Bears. In the playoffs, he outmaneuvered the 49ers and toppled the top-seeded Eagles, highlighted by Ronde Barber’s unforgettable 95-yard interception.

His crowning moment came in Super Bowl XXXVII, where his insight into the Raiders’ system led to a dominant 48–21 victory. Gruden’s balance of innovation, adaptability, and leadership produced one of the most talked-about upsets in NFL history.

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