If you needed a reminder that the NFL offseason can get a little weird, this week delivered. A report surfaced claiming the New York Jets had reached out to Jon Gruden about joining Aaron Glenn’s coaching staff. Yes, that Jon Gruden - the Super Bowl-winning head coach who hasn’t held an assistant role since the late '90s.
The rumor, originally floated by The Athletic’s Zack Rosenblatt and echoed by WFAN’s Craig Carton, quickly made the rounds. But Gruden himself didn’t waste any time shutting it down. In a direct response, he called the report “stupid,” putting an abrupt end to the speculation.
Let’s break this down: Jon Gruden hasn’t been an assistant coach since 1997. Since then, he’s led two separate stints with the Raiders, won a Super Bowl with the Buccaneers, and carved out a high-profile media career. He’s not exactly the type of coach you expect to see sliding into an assistant role - especially with a franchise that’s been stuck in neutral for years and a staff that could be coaching for its future in 2026.
From a football standpoint, the idea doesn’t add up. Gruden’s resume is long and accomplished, but it’s built on head-coaching experience and offensive leadership - not filling a secondary role on a staff still trying to find its footing. He’s been out of the league since his controversial exit from Las Vegas, and while his name still carries weight, a return to the sidelines would almost certainly come with more control than an assistant gig offers.
There’s also the broader context here. The Jets are in a pivotal moment.
After another disappointing season and with pressure mounting, Aaron Glenn and his staff need to show progress - fast. Bringing in a high-profile, potentially polarizing figure like Gruden would only complicate that dynamic, not steady it.
So where did this rumor come from? That’s unclear.
It could be a simple case of misinformation, or it might be one of those classic offseason smokescreens - the kind of thing teams float to test for leaks or stir up a little misdirection. Whatever the case, it doesn’t look like there’s any real traction here.
Bottom line: Jon Gruden isn’t walking through the doors at One Jets Drive. Not as an assistant.
Not right now. And probably not ever.
The Jets have plenty of real decisions to make this offseason - this just isn’t one of them.