Report: Jon Gruden reaching out to potential assistants, interested in Bucs

With several head coaching vacancies expected to open up in the NFL when the regular season ends, rumors about Jon Gruden leaving the broadcast booth continue to swirl. According to one report, Gruden is definitely entertaining the possibility of a return to coaching.

Ian Rapoport of NFL Network said Sunday that Gruden has been reaching out to potential assistant coaches to gauge their interest in joining him on the sideline. A reunion with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers still seems like the most likely scenario.

Grumors on @NFLGameDay: Jon Gruden is reaching out to possible assistants as many wonder if this year is different, while Jay Gruden is a top target for the #Bengals — if available. pic.twitter.com/ZVvniD5nvr

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) December 24, 2017

“Gruden right now is going through the process of reaching out to former assistants and friends in the coaching industry to see if they would potentially come with him if he were able to get a head coaching job,” Rapoport said. “Of course, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers do have Dirk Koetter on the hot seat. That would be his preferred destination.”

The Bucs are 4-10 and there have been reports that Koetter and Jameis Winston are not getting along. Gruden is a former quarterback, so he may be intrigued by the possibility of coaching Winston.

Gruden was recently asked about the possibility that he could coach another NFL team, and he did not exactly dismiss the rumors. While we’re used to hearing reports about Gruden’s coaching return every year, it seems like the Super Bowl champion is making less of an effort to shoot down the speculation this time around.