Announced last night at halftime of the New Orleans Saints-Chicago Bears game, ESPN has signed Monday Night Football analyst Jon Gruden through the end of its NFL rights contract in 2021. It means it squashes any speculation that Gruden will go back to coaching anytime soon.
Since he signed with ESPN in 2009, Gruden has often been the subject of many a coaching rumor whether it be in college football or the pros. But every time it appears Gruden might be close to consider a departure back to coaching, he signs a contract extension. And this time, he’s signed for the next seven seasons.
It means he’ll call 16 regular season games, one Wild Card Playoff game and the Pro Bowl along with doing his Gruden QB Camp specials, analyzing the NFL Draft as well as having a presence on ESPN’s Super Bowl Week coverage through the life of the ESPN Monday Night Football contract.
ESPN is happy and Gruden is happy. Here’s the press release.
Jon Gruden Agrees to Extension through ESPN’s Monday Night Football Deal
Monday Night Football analyst Jon Gruden has agreed to an extension with ESPN that will keep him on sports television’s signature series and out of coaching through the remainder of the company’s current NFL rights agreement, the 2021 NFL season.
Since joining ESPN in May 2009, Gruden has teamed with play-by-play commentator Mike Tirico to help make MNF the most-watched series in cable television history. Gruden has earned four Sports Emmy Award nominations in the Best Analyst category while helping MNF earn four show nominations for Best Live Series.
Additionally, the Super Bowl-winning coach has been widely praised for his groundbreaking SportsCenter Special: Gruden’s QB Camp series which has become a popular element of ESPN’s annual coverage in the lead-up to NFL Draft. Over the past five years, the in-depth, one-on-one interviews and film sessions have featured Gruden mentoring top quarterback prospects such as Andrew Luck, Johnny Manziel, Cam Newton and eventual Super Bowl champion Russell Wilson.
Gruden has also contributed to ESPN’s NFL Draft and Super Bowl week coverage, major college football bowl games and other platforms. Next month, he will be part of the MNF team that calls ESPN’s first-ever NFL Playoff game, as well as the NFL Pro Bowl (Jan. 25).
“Jon has been a game-changer for ESPN and for Monday Night Football, entertaining and engaging fans with his vast knowledge of the game and his dynamic personality,” said John Wildhack, ESPN executive vice president, programming and production. “Jon has quickly become one of the premier analysts in all of sports and we’re thrilled he’s made this long-term commitment. We look forward to having him as part of our NFL presentation for many years to come.”
Beyond his analyst role, Gruden has committed himself to giving back to the game through the FFCA, a Tampa-based football think-tank he founded in 2008. The organization plays an important role in youth development with a specific emphasis on supporting high school athletic programs. ESPN will continue to work with Gruden to support these initiatives.
“Being a part of Monday Night Football alongside our ESPN crew is a dream job,” said Gruden. “I love calling big prime-time games every week and spending time with the best players and coaches on the planet, while also finding new ways to teach and talk about football year round. There’s no place I’d rather be.”
Gruden served as an NFL head coach for 11 seasons with the Oakland Raiders (1998-2001) and Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2002-08). He compiled a career record of 100-85 and led his teams to five division titles. Gruden’s best season was 2002 when the Buccaneers finished the regular season 12-4 and captured the Super Bowl XXXVII title with a 48-21 victory over the Raiders, the team he had coached just one season earlier. At the time, the championship made then 38-year-old Gruden the youngest head coach ever to win a Super Bowl.
Gruden began his NFL coaching career in 1990 with the San Francisco 49ers as an assistant in charge of quality control. He quickly ascended through the ranks, also serving as the Green Bay Packers wide receivers coach (1992-94) and the Philadelphia Eagles offensive coordinator (1995-97).
That is all.
