Will Jon Gruden replace Mike McDaniel at Dolphins? – via Getty
Jon Gruden has not officially coached in the NFL ever since an email scandal ended his second tenure with the Las Vegas Raiders in the middle of the 2021 season. However, he may find his way back soon should one of the incumbents continue faltering.
Speaking on his 3 & Out podcast on Friday, former scout John Middlekauff floated the Miami Dolphins as a possible destination for the one-time Super Bowl champion should Mike McDaniel continue to underwhelm in 2025 (segment begins at 18:41 in the video below):
“I would say it’d be on the table. I think if they suck this year—which I think is a decent chance—that owner’s proven to be nuts. He’s proven to be someone who goes after big fish. I mean, he tried to get (Los Angeles Chargers head coach Jim) Harbaugh multiple times… I would say that Gruden, my guess would be, is in January of 2026.”
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Jon Gruden last worked as an advisor for the European League of Football’s Milano Seamen in 2024. After he resigned from the Raiders, he worked as a consultant for the New Orleans Saints in 2023.
The Dolphins, meanwhile, are entering a critical phase in the McDaniel era. After two straight playoff appearances in his first two seasons as head coach, both of which ended in road losses in the Wild Card Round, they regressed to an 8-9 record and were out of the picture in 2024.
Their offseason has been marked by the losses of multiple key personnel. Offensive tackle Terron Armstead retired, while linebacker Emmanuel Ogbah and safeties Jordan Poyer and Jevon Holland left in free agency. Tight end Jonnu Smith, who broke out with career-highs in every relevant stat in 2024, has also been the subject of trade talks with the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Over the week, Jon Gruden made his presence felt again, as he observed the second part of the Baltimore Ravens’ OTAs. Head coach John Harbaugh described the experience with the “great football mind”, as he put it, as follows:
“We didn’t give him the playbook, we didn’t give him a script either. You can only go so far. He studied us. Basically, the message was, ‘If I was game planning against you on defense, what would I do, how would I attack you?’ He didn’t just stop there. He watched our offensive guys. He had something for each player. Very, very detailed.”
He continued:
“He was letting them know where they could get better, which I respect. I think a great coach is not afraid to tell people where they can improve. Doesn’t every player want to know that? He has so much respect for guys, but still letting them know, ‘Hey, this is what I see you can improve on.'”
The Ravens’ OTAs resume tomorrow and will conclude three days later, on June 12. Mandatory minicamp will be held a week later, from June 17 to 19.