Jon Gruden

Jon Gruden (born August 17, 1963 in Sandusky, Ohio) is an American football coach in the NFL.

After breaking into professional football as an offensive assistant coach for the San Francisco 49ers in 1990, Gruden quickly ascended through the ranks of NFL coaching by learning, implementing, and improving the famous West Coast offense pioneered by longtime NFL coach Bill Walsh. When Mike Holmgren left the 49ers to become head coach of the Green Bay Packers in 1992, he took the promising and young Gruden with him to become the team's wide receivers coach. After three seasons in Green Bay, Gruden moved on to become the offensive coordinator of the Philadelphia Eagles under former Packers assistant coach Ray Rhodes. Gruden then was chosen by the legendary owner and general manager of the Oakland Raiders, Al Davis, to be the Raiders' new head coach for the 1998 season.

After compiling a 40–28 win-loss record with the Raiders, Gruden moved on to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2002, traded for several draft picks and cash considerations. The trade took place for several reasons, including Gruden's desire to run his own organization, Davis' desire to be rid of a talented coach who might challenge his decision-making authority on the Raiders, Gruden's contract expiring a year after the trade, and Davis' uncertainty whether Gruden was worth as much money as his next contract was sure to pay him. The high draft picks (two first round picks and two second round picks) given to the Raiders in the trade, and the large contract which the Buccaneers awarded Gruden, both sealed the deal that sent one of the NFL's promising young coaches to a long-suffering franchise. Immediately after arriving in Tampa, he led the Bucs to a 16–4 season and capped it off with a Super Bowl win over his old team, the Raiders, now coached by Bill Callahan. In 2003, he went 7–9.

Prior to joining the NFL as a coach, Gruden worked in the college football programs at the University of Tennessee (1986–87), Southeast Missouri State University (1988), Pacific University (1989), and the University of Pittsburgh (1991).

Gruden's tendency to make angry facial expressions at games has led him to receive the nickname "Chucky", as he has an uncanny resemblance to the killer doll.

He is the older brother of Jay Gruden, former starting quarterback and current head coach of the Orlando Predators of the Arena Football League.