Former Buccaneers HC Gruden to get Play-by-Play Chance
· Yahoo Sports
Former Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ head coach Jon Gruden is known primarily for two things: Being a longtime coach in the National Football League, and a media personality.
Visit casino-promo.biz for more information.
Now, he’s trying something different.
Although Gruden is familiar with calling NFL games as an analyst, known more for his Monday Night Football tenure from 2009 to 2017, play-by-play will be a new role for him.
Ira Kaufman of JoeBucsFan.com first reported that Gruden will be announcing play-by-play for a Buccaneers’ preseason game. Further specifics, such as which game it will be or whether it will be a radio or TV broadcast, are unclear yet. But considering this will be Tampa’s first preseason since the retirement of longtime radio voice Gene Deckerhoff, it seems unlikely that the Bucs would take reps away from Deckerhoff’s successor, Tony Castricone.
Based on a recent interview Gruden did on the Ira Kaufman Podcast Monday, Gruden plans on making this more than just a one-time deal.
“I was a broadcaster for nine years; hell’s bells,” Gruden said. “I want to be play-by-play. You know, Frank Gifford, he transitioned into the play-by-play role. I would like to transition. I had nine years of watching these guys — (Mike) Tirico. And I’d like to give that a shot, man.”
To Gruden’s point, Gifford became a successful play-by-play man after his legendary playing career with the New York Giants, to the point where, despite his status as a Hall of Fame player, he’s arguably just as well-known for being one of the first voices of Monday Night Football.
Tirico took a more traditional path to play-by-play, not having a background in playing or coaching.
He’s long been established as one of the best in the world at what he does, and although it’s been a while since Gruden worked alongside him, it’s easy to see a nine-year partnership helping Gruden become a play-by-play guy.
It’s also easy to see Gruden being unsuccessful. Anybody who has been a play-by-play announcer at any level knows it isn’t easy, and Gruden likely understands this better than most, having been a fixture in the booth. Even if Gruden proves to be a natural, it’s fair to wonder how far this thing will take him.
At 62, Gruden is far older than the age at which most long-term play-by-play announcers get their start, but he has never been conventional.
Conventional men aren’t listed amongst People Magazine’s 50 Most Beautiful People in the World, which Gruden was in 2001.
Conventional men would have faded into oblivion if they were fired under the circumstances Gruden was from the Las Vegas Raiders in 2021.
Instead, Gruden is thriving as a Barstool Sports personality. Conventional men also don’t win Super Bowls, and the fact that Gruden did with the Bucs makes his legacy in Tampa secure.
None of this is to guarantee that Gruden will be successful. But he’s serious about it.
“He’s not fooling around about this stuff. He’s not,” Kaufman said on 95.7 WDAE & AM620.
Breaking News: @IKaufman76 of @JoeBucsFan tells @realrockriley on WDAE that Jon Gruden will be doing play-by-play for an NFL preseason game in about a month. Who else is excited about Gruden back on the mic?#WeAreTheKrewepic.twitter.com/DeiUCG6q7N
— 95.7 WDAE & AM620 (@957WDAE) July 14, 2026
Join our ROUNDTABLE community! It's free to join. Share your thoughts, engage with our Roundtable writers, and chat with fellow members.Download the free Roundtable APP, and stay even more connected!