Jon Gruden isn’t giving up on coaching.
The former Buccaneers and Raiders head coach told reporters at Lions camp that he’s trying to get back on the sidelines soon.
“Hopefully I’m not done,” Gruden said, according to The Detroit Free Press. “I’m about to make a comeback. I’m working hard to maybe get one more shot, but hopefully some of these guys that fell off my branch, if you say it that way, maybe they can hire me cause I’m looking for a job.”
Gruden, 61, resigned as Las Vegas head coach in October 2021 after the New York Times reported that he used homophobic and misogynistic language in emails over seven years ending in 2018.
While it’s safe to assume Gruden wants to coach in the NFL again, he said it doesn’t matter what level he’s at as long as he’s coaching again.
“I don’t care if I coach at Jones Junior High,” he said. “I’m going to coach again. I’m still coaching. I’m just not on a team officially, but I do have some private assignments I work on and I wear some gear when I’m watching the games that nobody knows about who I’m pulling for.”
Gruden has served as a consultant for some teams, including the Saints and Ravens, since resigning nearly four years ago.
He’s in Lions camp supporting the franchise’s new offensive coordinator, John Morton, who served as an assistant under Gruden with the Raiders.
In November, Gruden joined Barstool Sports, reviving a media career that started with working as an analyst for ESPN on “Monday Night Football” from 2009-17.
Gruden is currently suing the league and commissioner Roger Goodell, accusing him of “selectively leaking” emails in an orchestrated move to force him out as Raiders coach.
In 15 seasons as an NFL head coach, Gruden compiled a 117-112 record, including a Super Bowl victory with the Buccaneers in 2002.