Jay Gruden
Encyclopedia
Jay Gruden is an American football
coach and former quarterback
. He is currently the offensive coordinator
for the Cincinnati Bengals
and was formerly the head coach
of the Florida Tuskers of the United Football League. He is also a decorated player and coach in Arena Football League
history, winning four ArenaBowls as a player and two more as a head coach. Gruden is also the brother of former Tampa Bay Buccaneers
head coach and current Monday Night Football
analyst Jon Gruden
.
in Tampa, Florida
, where he played quarterback for the Chiefs under head coach Billy Turner.
(1985–1988). He finished his collegiate career with 7,024 passing yards, completing 572 of 1049 passes for 44 touchdowns. All four stats still rank in the top five in Cardinals' history. As a senior, Gruden led the team to an 8–3 mark, their first winning season in 10 years.
titles as the starting quarterback of the Tampa Bay Storm
. He was the Arena League MVP in the 1992 season.
in 1997. Then, in 1998, he became head coach of the Orlando Predators
, the main rival of the Tampa Bay Storm. He won ArenaBowl
titles in 1998 and 2000 as head coach. He un-retired and resumed playing in 2002, this time for the Predators, but retired again and returned to head coaching when his replacement, Fran Papasedero
, died after the 2003 season. Gruden has an overall AFL career record of 93–61, including a record of 11–7 in the playoffs.
From 2002 to 2008 he also served as an offensive assistant for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
in the National Football League
under his brother, head coach Jon Gruden. He left after Jon was fired following the 2008 season.
In 2009, while the Predators were on hiatus prior to the folding of the AFL, he was selected to be head coach Jim Haslett
's offensive coordinator for the Florida Tuskers of the United Football League. As part of his contract, he was not permitted to remain head coach of the Predators. Instead, former Preds quarterback Pat O'Hara
, who led the team to the two ArenaBowls it won when Gruden was head coach, was hired in his place.
In 2010, he was named head coach of the Tuskers following Haslett's departure to join Mike Shanahan
's staff with the Washington Redskins
.
Gruden was hired as the offensive coordinator for the Cincinnati Bengals
on February 3, 2011.
. His brother Jon
was the head coach of the Oakland Raiders
, and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
coach and former quarterback
Quarterback
Quarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line...
. He is currently the offensive coordinator
Offensive coordinator
An offensive coordinator is a member of the coaching staff of a gridiron football team who is in charge of the offense. Generally, along with his defensive counterpart, he represents the second level of command structure after the head coach...
for the Cincinnati Bengals
Cincinnati Bengals
The Cincinnati Bengals are a professional football team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the AFC's North Division in the National Football League . The Bengals began play in 1968 as an expansion team in the American Football League , and joined the NFL in 1970 in the AFL-NFL...
and was formerly the head coach
Head coach
A head coach, senior coach or manager is a professional at training and developing athletes. They typically hold a more public profile and are paid more than other coaches...
of the Florida Tuskers of the United Football League. He is also a decorated player and coach in Arena Football League
Arena Football League
The Arena Football League is the highest level of professional indoor American football in the United States. It is currently the second longest running professional football league in the United States, after the National Football League. It was founded in 1987 by Jim Foster...
history, winning four ArenaBowls as a player and two more as a head coach. Gruden is also the brother of former Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are a professional American football franchise based in Tampa, Florida, U.S. They are currently members of the Southern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League – they are the only team in the division not to come from the old NFC West...
head coach and current Monday Night Football
Monday Night Football
Monday Night Football is a live broadcast of the National Football League on ESPN. From to it aired on ABC. Monday Night Football was, along with Hallmark Hall of Fame, and the Walt Disney anthology television series, one of the longest running prime time commercial network television series...
analyst Jon Gruden
Jon Gruden
Jon David Gruden is an American football analyst and former head coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for seven seasons and prior to that the Oakland Raiders for four seasons. In his first year as the head coach of Tampa Bay, the Buccaneers won Super Bowl XXXVII, defeating the Raiders whom he had...
.
Early years
Gruden attended George D. Chamberlain High SchoolGeorge D. Chamberlain High School
George D. Chamberlain High School was opened in 1956 on North Boulevard in Tampa, Florida, in the United States. The school is named in honor of George Chamberlain, who served for several years as a trustee for the Hillsborough County School System.The school newspaper, The Chieftain, is part of...
in Tampa, Florida
Tampa, Florida
Tampa is a city in the U.S. state of Florida. It serves as the county seat for Hillsborough County. Tampa is located on the west coast of Florida. The population of Tampa in 2010 was 335,709....
, where he played quarterback for the Chiefs under head coach Billy Turner.
College career
Gruden was a four-year letterman at LouisvilleUniversity of Louisville
The University of Louisville is a public university in Louisville, Kentucky. When founded in 1798, it was the first city-owned public university in the United States and one of the first universities chartered west of the Allegheny Mountains. The university is mandated by the Kentucky General...
(1985–1988). He finished his collegiate career with 7,024 passing yards, completing 572 of 1049 passes for 44 touchdowns. All four stats still rank in the top five in Cardinals' history. As a senior, Gruden led the team to an 8–3 mark, their first winning season in 10 years.
Professional career
Gruden won four ArenaBowlArenaBowl
The ArenaBowl is the Arena Football League's championship game. From 1987 to 2004, the ArenaBowl was hosted by either the team with the better regular-season record or the higher seeding in the playoffs. From ArenaBowl XIX in 2005 until ArenaBowl XXII in 2008, the game was played at a neutral site...
titles as the starting quarterback of the Tampa Bay Storm
Tampa Bay Storm
The Tampa Bay Storm are an Arena Football League team based in the Tampa Bay Area of Florida. They play their home games in the St. Pete Times Forum in Tampa....
. He was the Arena League MVP in the 1992 season.
Awards
- 1992: League MVP & First Team All-Arena-QB
- 1993: All-Star Game MVP
- 1995: First Team All-Arena-QB (TB)
- 1996: AFL's 10th Anniversary Team
- 1999: AFL Hall of Fame & All-ArenaBowl Team-QB
- 2001: Second Team 15th Team Anniversary-QB
- 2006: No. 4 on the AFL's list of its top 20 greatest players
Coaching career
Gruden began his coaching career as the offensive coordinator for the Nashville KatsNashville Kats
The Nashville Kats were an Arena Football League team, located in Nashville, Tennessee. They were last coached by Pat Sperduto, who coached the team's original incarnation to two ArenaBowl appearances prior to the original franchise's move to Atlanta in 2002...
in 1997. Then, in 1998, he became head coach of the Orlando Predators
Orlando Predators
The Orlando Predators are an Arena Football League team based in Orlando, Florida that was founded in 1991. Their playoff streak is currently 19 seasons in a row, as of the season, becoming the ArenaBowl champions in 1998 and 2000...
, the main rival of the Tampa Bay Storm. He won ArenaBowl
ArenaBowl
The ArenaBowl is the Arena Football League's championship game. From 1987 to 2004, the ArenaBowl was hosted by either the team with the better regular-season record or the higher seeding in the playoffs. From ArenaBowl XIX in 2005 until ArenaBowl XXII in 2008, the game was played at a neutral site...
titles in 1998 and 2000 as head coach. He un-retired and resumed playing in 2002, this time for the Predators, but retired again and returned to head coaching when his replacement, Fran Papasedero
Fran Papasedero
Fran Papasedero was an Arena football player and coach. Papasedero coached the Arena Football League's Orlando Predators in the 2002 and 2003 seasons, having been appointed to replace Jay Gruden who wanted to resume his playing career at quarterback for the Predators. He had a 19-11 record and was...
, died after the 2003 season. Gruden has an overall AFL career record of 93–61, including a record of 11–7 in the playoffs.
From 2002 to 2008 he also served as an offensive assistant for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are a professional American football franchise based in Tampa, Florida, U.S. They are currently members of the Southern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League – they are the only team in the division not to come from the old NFC West...
in the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
under his brother, head coach Jon Gruden. He left after Jon was fired following the 2008 season.
In 2009, while the Predators were on hiatus prior to the folding of the AFL, he was selected to be head coach Jim Haslett
Jim Haslett
James Donald "Jim" Haslett is an American football coach and former linebacker. He is currently the defensive coordinator of the Washington Redskins. Previously, he served as the head coach for the Florida Tuskers of the United Football League, and the New Orleans Saints and St...
's offensive coordinator for the Florida Tuskers of the United Football League. As part of his contract, he was not permitted to remain head coach of the Predators. Instead, former Preds quarterback Pat O'Hara
Pat O'Hara
Patrick O'Hara is an arena football coach and retired quarterback. He is currently the head coach of the New Orleans VooDoo of the Arena Football League. He was drafted by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the 10th round of the 1991 NFL Draft...
, who led the team to the two ArenaBowls it won when Gruden was head coach, was hired in his place.
In 2010, he was named head coach of the Tuskers following Haslett's departure to join Mike Shanahan
Mike Shanahan
Michael Edward "Mike" Shanahan is the 28th and current head coach of the Washington Redskins of the National Football League. Shanahan also holds the title of Vice President of Football Operations with the Redskins, giving him full control over player personnel with the team. Shanahan previously...
's staff with the Washington Redskins
Washington Redskins
The Washington Redskins are a professional American football team and members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team plays at FedExField in Landover, Maryland, while its headquarters and training facility are at Redskin Park in Ashburn,...
.
Gruden was hired as the offensive coordinator for the Cincinnati Bengals
Cincinnati Bengals
The Cincinnati Bengals are a professional football team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the AFC's North Division in the National Football League . The Bengals began play in 1968 as an expansion team in the American Football League , and joined the NFL in 1970 in the AFL-NFL...
on February 3, 2011.
Personal
Gruden's father Jim, a long-time college and NFL assistant coach, is a retired regional scout for the San Francisco 49ersSan Francisco 49ers
The San Francisco 49ers are a professional American football team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team was founded in 1946 as a charter member of the All-America Football Conference and...
. His brother Jon
Jon Gruden
Jon David Gruden is an American football analyst and former head coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for seven seasons and prior to that the Oakland Raiders for four seasons. In his first year as the head coach of Tampa Bay, the Buccaneers won Super Bowl XXXVII, defeating the Raiders whom he had...
was the head coach of the Oakland Raiders
Oakland Raiders
The Oakland Raiders are a professional American football team based in Oakland, California. They currently play in the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
, and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are a professional American football franchise based in Tampa, Florida, U.S. They are currently members of the Southern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League – they are the only team in the division not to come from the old NFC West...
.