In the chaotic hours after the University of Michigan fired head coach Sherrone Moore “for cause,” college football insiders and fans alike began speculating wildly about who might take over one of the sport’s most coveted jobs, and one name kept popping up: Jon Gruden.
Moore‘s abrupt dismissal has left Michigan with major questions about the future of its football program.
Until recently, Moore was slated to coach the Wolverines against the Texas Longhorns in the CheezIt Citrus Bowl on December 31 after a 9-3 regular season.
But university leadership moved swiftly after an internal investigation uncovered credible evidence of Moore engaging in an inappropriate relationship with a staff member, behavior the school said violated institutional policy.
Jon Gruden becomes a contender for the Wolverines’ head coach spot
Veteran football coach Jon Gruden, with a career largely built in the NFL, has surfaced in conversations about potentially succeeding Moore.
The resurfacing of a nearly 40-year-old aspiration gives this coaching rumor an extra layer of intrigue. Back in 1984, a young Gruden reportedly noted his goal of one day coaching at Michigan, a dream that, until now, had remained a quirky footnote in his long biography.
Gruden‘s journey to prominence in football has been anything but traditional. Born in Sandusky, Ohio, he played quarterback at the University of Dayton before beginning his coaching career as a graduate assistant at the University of Tennessee in the mid-1980s.
He spent several seasons in collegiate assistant roles before moving fulltime into the NFL coaching ranks, eventually becoming head coach of the Oakland Raiders and then the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, with whom he won Super Bowl XXXVII.
After an extensive broadcast career and a controversial return to coaching with the Raiders, Gruden resigned in 2021 amid scrutiny over offensive personal emails.
In the years since, he has remained involved in football through media work and consulting roles, including joining the ownership group of the Nashville Kats in the Arena Football One league.
Gruden‘s name isn’t the only one in play. Michigan‘s coaching search is expected to be thorough and intense.
Reports indicate the Wolverines hope to have a new head coach in place by early January, and a long list of candidates from both college and professional ranks is already being discussed.
Michigan’s uncertain coaching future
The Wolverines now find themselves in uncharted territory. Moore, who became the first African American head coach in Michigan history when he was promoted in 2024, leaves behind a mixed legacy of onfield success and offfield controversy.
His tenure included a national championship the year before he was officially head coach and notable rivalry wins, but ended in scandal and suspension related to NCAA investigations and internal disciplinary issues.
