Former NFL head coach Jon Gruden, who faced an ouster from the Las Vegas Raiders in 2021, is expressing his keen interest in returning to coaching. In an exclusive interview with Brandon Marcello of CBS Sports, Gruden revealed his sincere desire to take the reins once again. While the specific level of coaching is open-ended, Gruden's background and personal connections indicate a potential path in college football.

Gruden's enthusiasm for coaching is rooted in his family ties and his past experiences in the collegiate realm. "Yeah, I'm interested in coaching," said Gruden. "My dad was a college coach, I was a college coach at Pitt, my wife was a cheerleader at Tennessee when I met her. Hell yeah, I'm interested in coaching." Gruden firmly believes in his ability to make a positive impact on teams, particularly in developing young players and putting together a competent coaching staff.

Having been removed from his position with the Raiders amid offensive emails that surfaced, the college ranks seem like the most probable avenue for Gruden's return. The Super Bowl-winning coach found himself at the center of controversy due to anti-LGBTQ slurs and discriminatory remarks made in emails concerning NFL commissioner Roger Goodell. The revelations emerged as part of an investigation into Dan Snyder and the Washington Commanders, ultimately leading to Gruden's dismissal by the Raiders.

While Gruden remains open to coaching at any level, his current circumstances make him receptive to potential opportunities in college football. In his interview with Marcello, Gruden extended an invitation to interested college programs, expressing his willingness to contribute his expertise and energize their teams. "If there's somebody out there that thinks they need a candidate, somebody to come in there, maybe lather it up a little bit, jazz it up a little bit, I'll be down here in Tampa," said Gruden.

The question remains whether a college program will be willing to take a chance on Gruden, considering the tumultuous end of his tenure with the Raiders. However, if an opportunity arises, Gruden affirmed that he is ready to step up and get back into coaching. As time unfolds, we will see if any college program decides to seize this potentially controversial but experienced coach to lead their team to success.

In the ever-evolving landscape of college football, time will tell if Jon Gruden's desire to return to coaching will become a reality once again.