Jon Gruden, who once led Tampa Bay to a Super Bowl XXXVII title as their head coach, is stepping back into the broadcast booth! He’s actually going to be the play-by-play announcer for the Bucs’ second preseason game against the Chiefs on August 22. This isn’t some quiet return; Gruden spoke with local Buccaneers media on Thursday, and he sounded absolutely “fired up” about the gig.
Gruden’s Unexpected Comeback to the Mic
It’s been a minute since we heard Gruden regularly on the mic, especially in this capacity. He missed the camaraderie of being around a broadcast team, something he got used to during his time on Monday Night Football before he went back to coaching with the Raiders in 2018. Now, he’s back, and not just as an analyst. He’s planning to handle the play-by-play! He’s going to be up there with Ronde Barber for a good three and a half hours, and honestly, who knows what’s gonna go down with those two? Gruden himself said, “God knows what’s going to happen.”
“Fired Up” and a Little Nervous for Football Season
Gruden is definitely excited, maybe even a little nervous, which is totally relatable. He told reporters, “We’ve got a great young team here, we’ve added some players, And to be up there with Ronde Barber for three-and-a-half hours, God knows what’s going to happen. But we’re going to have fun. We’re going to celebrate the Bucs and hopefully kick off what’s going to be what’s going to be a really special season.” He even joked that despite being assigned play-by-play, it’s really “Ronde’s show.” They’ve got a production meeting on August 17 to sort out the cadence. But one thing is clear: Gruden is “really fired up for football season , especially the Buccaneers.”
So mark your calendars for August 22. It’s only preseason, but seeing Gruden back in such a specific, vocal role is going to be something to watch. We get to hear a Super Bowl-winning coach break down the game in real time, and with Ronde Barber by his side? That’s just pure entertainment to kick off the football season.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Pro Football Talk.
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