Jon Gruden ‘fired up’ for NFL play-by-play opportunity

As Jon Gruden continues trying to find his path back to the NFL, his latest step is a one-game cameo as a play-by-play voice for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Earlier this summer, Gruden revealed he has play-by-play ambitions after already working as a lead NFL analyst for nine years on Monday Night Football. Gruden cited Frank Gifford as an example of a broadcaster who transitioned from analyst to play-by-play announcer, and the former NFL head coach thinks he might be able to do the same.

After learning of Gruden’s aspirations, the Tampa Bay Bucs stepped up and granted his wish. This summer, Gruden will join Ronde Barber in the broadcast booth for the team’s Week 2 preseason game against the Kansas City Chiefs. And while attending Bucs’ training camp Thursday morning, Gruden met with reporters about his looming broadcast opportunity.

Former Bucs HC Jon Gruden on the moment he found out he’d return to the broadcast booth, teaming up with Ronde Barber#WeAreTheKrewe @BarstoolGruden

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— 95.7 WDAE & AM620 (@957WDAE) August 6, 2026

“I was fired up,” Gruden said of the moment he found out he was getting the opportunity to get back to the booth. “I had a lot of fun doing it for nine years. I was very fortunate on Monday Night Football, especially the years with Tirico. We had a lot of fun. We took every game like it was a Super Bowl. Took it very seriously, had a lot of fun. So I enjoy the profession. And at this point in my life, I still study football all the time. I’m still a big fan of the Bucs. I live right down the street. I’m really excited about it.”

If he still studies football all the time and treats every ESPN broadcast like the Super Bowl, surely Gruden and Barber are working hard to prepare for their preseason Week 2 opportunity.

“Well, I had a beer with him,” Gruden said when asked if he’s had a trial run with Barber yet.

There’s still time, however, with Gruden adding their prep won’t be limited to chatting over a beer. The former NFL head coach and ESPN broadcaster confirmed he’ll have a production meeting with Barber soon.

As Gruden noted, he spent nine years as the lead NFL analyst for ESPN’s Monday Night Football booth before returning to the sidelines as head coach of the Raiders in 2018. The reunion ended unceremoniously, however, with Gruden resigning from the Raiders during the 2021 NFL season after emails were leaked showing him making racist, homophobic and misogynistic remarks.

The leaked emails stemmed from the NFL’s investigation into toxic workplace allegations inside the Washington Commanders organization. One month after his resignation, Gruden filed a lawsuit against the NFL and commissioner Roger Goodell, a legal dispute that is still ongoing.

But as more time passes, Gruden has sought a return to the NFL. There has been a growing sentiment that he could return to coaching, but his play-by-play interest remains. The Bucs-Chiefs Week 2 preseason broadcast featuring Gruden and Barber in the booth will take place Saturday, Aug. 22 at 7:30 p.m. ET, airing on Tampa’s NBC affiliate, WFLA.