Report: Gruden job would interest Texas
Jon Gruden is willing to listen if Texas officials approach him about the Longhorns' head coaching vacancy, according to a report on Wednesday.
Orangebloods.com, which broke the news last week that Mack Brown was stepping down after 16 seasons at Texas, learned through its sources that the former NFL coach is "open to hearing" about what he considers one of the premier job in the country and would seriously consider it.
Gruden, who currently works as an ESPN analyst on Monday Night Football, has been mentioned as a candidate for numerous openings since he was fired as Tampa Bay Buccaneers coach in 2008. He has not coached since then and has not worked in college since 1991 when he was a receivers coach at the University of Pittsburgh.
"It's Austin, it's not like any other city in Texas or anywhere, really," a source told Orangebloods.com. "It's a destination, but with the state capitol, the university, the politics and the media, it's the eye of a hurricane. "(James) Franklin, (Jim) Mora, they're are great coaches -- but stepping into this sort of situation for the first time? You're going to have limited success."
Franklin, Mora, Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin and several others are among the coaches mentioned as possible candidates at Texas.
Gruden, 50, is considered a good fit because his media skills would be effective on the Longhorn Network. The Super Bowl-winning coach started his gig with ESPN in 2009.
"It's no secret that every major position that comes open stirs Gruden rumors," Orangeblood.com's source said. "The reason why the talks never go anywhere is because there are definitely two, maybe three, situations he's always said he would have to listen to. When Texas calls, you gotta listen.
"At some point, well, the bottom line is, there are only a few places where everything just fits."
