NFL Rumors: Did Jets Tried To Hire Jon Gruden?

February 05, 2026
Jon Gruden looks on during Detroit Lions practice in 2025.

The New York Jets managed to turn an offensive coordinator search into a full-blown rumor storm this week, with Jon Gruden’s name suddenly getting tossed into the mix. 

One report said the Jets reached out and Gruden shut it down, then Gruden jumped on Tampa radio and called the whole thing a “stupid” rumor, insisting there was never any contact.

Jets offense needs answers, and the Gruden chatter shows the panic

The reason this even caught fire is obvious. New York is coming off a brutal 3-14 season, and the offense flatlined, including a sack rate that ballooned to an NFL-worst 11.7% and a passing attack that finished at 140.3 yards per game, a number that puts you in historically ugly territory. 

With Aaron Glenn reshuffling staff and the Jets looking for someone who can actually steer an offense, it’s not surprising they’d at least explore big, experienced names, and Gruden’s resume still carried weight: a Super Bowl XXXVII ring, 117 career wins, and a long track record as an offense-first coach. 

Why the Jon Gruden rumor isn’t dying quietly, even if it’s dead

Here’s where it gets weird. One lane of reporting says the Jets made contact and Gruden wasn’t interested. 

Another lane is Gruden himself saying nothing happened, period, and brushing it off on the radio. 

Either way, the end result looks the same: Gruden isn’t walking through that door, and the Jets have turned to Frank Reich instead to pair with Glenn and stabilize the franchise before this spiral gets even louder. 

Photo Credit: Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Go To: NBA Rumors | MLB Rumors | NHL Rumors