The Fired Football Coaches Association may lose its founder. And "Monday Night Football" may lose its analyst - at least that's what he hopes.
Former Tampa Bay Buccaneers Super Bowl-winning coach and current ESPN analyst John Gruden told a gathering at a local bank tailgate event in Ocala, Fla., that he wants to return to coaching.
"I haven't lost a game in 3½ years," he said, as reported by Ocala.com. "But no, I would like to give coaching one more try."
USA TODAY Sports points out that Gruden has made similar statements in the past and has declined previous job openings when contacted by prospective suitors.
ProFootballTalk.com reports, however, that Gruden now has entered his fifth season away from coaching and that the itch to get back to the sidelines may be spreading.
The report speculated that if Jason Garrett does not survive in Dallas, several of Gruden's former assistants are in place with the Cowboys and that could be a landing spot for the former coach.
Gruden formed the Fired Football Coaches Association after the Tampa Bay Buccaneers fired him at the end of the 2008 season. He has a 95-81 career record in the NFL with the Oakland Raiders and Tampa Bay.
ProFootballTalk.com adds that Gruden's stock could be on the rise because of the success of Andy Reid, his former colleague in Green Bay, with the Kansas City Chiefs. Reid also was a former member of the FFCA.
Ironically, the Buccaneers may be on the verge of firing current head coach Greg Schiano and could have an opening at season's end. USA TODAY Sports writes, however, that the history between Gruden and Bucs owner Malcolm Glazer, who fired him in 2008, may prevent that from happening.
Gruden's name annually comes up in discussions at both the collegiate and NFL levels annually in regards to openings. Could 2014 be the season that he finally answers somebody's call
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