Jon Gruden is heading back into an NFL broadcast booth, and this one comes with a familiar Tampa Bay twist.
The former Super Bowl-winning coach will call the Buccaneers’ preseason home game against the Kansas City Chiefs, the team announced Thursday. Gruden will be paired with Hall of Fame cornerback Ronde Barber, giving Tampa Bay fans a reunion of two franchise figures who helped shape one of the most memorable eras in team history.
“Two franchise icons are back together again. Super Bowl-winning head coach & Buccaneers Ring of Honor inductee @BarstoolGruden joins Pro Football Hall of Famer & Buccaneers Ring of Honor inductee @rondebarber in the broadcast booth when we host the Kansas City Chiefs,” the Buccaneers wrote.
The reaction from fans was immediate, and loud. One wrote, “Fire dem cannons already, we await the moment,” while another said, “Really excited to see these two together again.” A third added, “If the commentary’s as legendary as the duo, I’ll need popcorn and a time machine to keep up.”
For Gruden, the assignment marks a return to calling NFL games after staying away from the league for the past five years. He has also said that he wants to become a play-by-play announcer.
His ties to Tampa Bay run deep. Gruden took over in 2002 and led the Buccaneers to their first Super Bowl title that same season, beating the Oakland Raiders in Super Bowl XXXVII.
The team later fired him after the bad 2008 season. He was added to the Buccaneers’ Ring of Honor, removed in 2021, and returned last year.
Barber’s résumé in Tampa Bay is just as decorated. He spent his entire 16-season NFL career with the Buccaneers, earned All-Pro honors during the Super Bowl season, and played a major part in the playoff run.
In three postseason games, he had two interceptions, including a pick-six, and defended 10 passes. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2023.
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