Former Tampa Bay Buccaneers coach and current ESPN analyst Jon Gruden is the latest name linked to the Texas Longhorns' coaching vacancy. The Super Bowl-winning coach is "open" to discussing the coaching job, OrangeBloods.com reports.
Gruden is successful as an ESPN analyst on Monday Night Football, but he's long said he would consider a return to coaching if the right opportunity were to present itself. Now the broadcaster, who's been out of coaching since 2008, is open to hearing from Texas if approached about the vacancy. He's willing to listen to the athletic department because he considers the coaching the Longhorns to be a "premier" job, according to OrangeBloods.com.
"It's no secret that every major position that comes open stirs Gruden rumors. The reason why the talks never go anywhere is because there are definitely two, maybe three, situations he's always said he would have to listen to," one source told OrangeBloods.com on Tuesday. "When Texas calls, you gotta listen.
"At some point, well, the bottom line is - there are only a few places where everything just fits."
The source said Texas is on Gruden's short list of places he'd consider coaching at because of the city of Austin, the university's current situation and the "overall fit."
"It's Austin, it's not like any other city in Texas or anywhere, really," the source said. "It's a destination, but with the state capitol, the university, the politics and the media, it's the eye of a hurricane."
As of Tuesday, Texas hasn't contacted Gruden.
Gruden coached the Oakland Raiders from 1998 to 2001 before helming the Buccaneers from 2002 to 2008; he won the 2003 Super Bowl. He went 95-81 as a head coach in the NFL.
OrangeBloods.com was the first to report the forthcoming resignation of Texas coach Mack Brown.
