The Kansas City Chiefs had a surprise visitor at their training camp recently, none other than former head coach Jon Gruden! The football guru showed up fully geared up in Kansas City attire and even lent a helping hand at Sunday’s practice session.
Rumors started swirling about whether Gruden would have a more permanent role with the defending champions, or if this was just a one-time visit to catch up with old friends. Gruden was spotted chatting it up with head coach Andy Reid and working alongside multiple assistants. It turns out, Gruden and Reid go way back to the 90s when they were both part of Mike Holmgren’s offensive staff with the Green Bay Packers.
Their coaching paths crossed from 1992 to 1994, with Gruden working as an offensive assistant/quality control coach and wide receivers coach, while Reid was an assistant offensive line and tight ends coach. After spending time coaching together, they eventually went on to face off against each other as head coaches before finding themselves reunited in Kansas City…if only for a practice session.
Gruden’s coaching journey has taken him to different corners of the football world. Last season, he was a consultant for the New Orleans Saints, and this year, he’s been serving as an adviser for the Italian football team Milano Seamen of the European League Football. However, Gruden’s return to coaching was cut short in 2021 when he resigned from his head-coaching position with the Las Vegas Raiders amidst controversy surrounding emails containing offensive remarks. Gruden has since been in a legal battle with the league over the incident.
The 60-year-old has quite the coaching resume, having led the Raiders from 1998 to 2001 and then the Tampa Bay Buccaneers from 2002 to 2008. His most notable achievement came in 2002 when he steered the Bucs to a Super Bowl victory over none other than his former team, the Raiders. With a coaching record of 117-112, Gruden’s experience and expertise have left a lasting impact on the football world.