Gruden: “I’d Be Lying If I Said I Was Rooting For The Bucs”
February 10th, 2021
“Ed, we put Jon in the Ring of Honor. What else can we do?”
It seems a certain family no longer bleeds red and pewter.
This nugget is a great example of why Joe chuckles when players, coaches and team executives say they care more about a team than fans.
At the end of the day, the fan never changes colors and invests money into fandom, while most players, coaches and suits get paid by the team and eventually are happy to run off and change club allegiances.
It seems that’s the case with Jay and Jon Gruden. Both were fired by Team Glazer after the 2008 season, and it appears the hard feelings remain.
Jay Gruden, who graduated Chamberlain High School in Tampa and grew up around the Bucs with his brother Chucky, joined The Rich Eisen Show this week to talk about Sunday’s Super Bowl.
Gruden didn’t hide that he’s turned on his hometown team.
“We didn’t leave on great accord there. They fired my brother; they fired myself,” Jay Gruden said. “So we’re kind of rooting for the Chiefs a little bit. Heck, I’d be lying if I said I was rooting for the Bucs. … I was rooting for the Devil Rays and the Lightning. Does that count?”
Gruden went on to say he loves Tampa and his parents still live in town.
Joe can just imagine Chucky sitting home in Vegas with a Corona and a tray of Hooters wings, cursing up a storm while watching the Bucs dominate.
Jay Gruden called what Todd Bowles pulled off “a masterpiece.”
February 10th, 2021 at 11:58 am
Chucky wasn’t complaining when they put him in the Ring of Honor.. I was at the game that night and he seemed pretty happy to be there.
February 10th, 2021 at 12:02 pm
I know Brady isn’t quite old enough to be desired by Jon Gruden
February 10th, 2021 at 12:08 pm
Even though not popular….it’s refreshing to see some honesty….
February 10th, 2021 at 12:08 pm
What Jay said is perfectly reasonable. If I got fired by a company I may still think highly of them, but there’ll always be a little bit of bitterness. If they were playing another company in, whatever, and that other company DIDN’T fire me, I may root for them “a little”.
February 10th, 2021 at 12:12 pm
I get it.
And this team is better than his SB team. The mountain this team climbed a lot higher. And Gruden was an Offense guy, and that team was pedestrian compared to this one.
February 10th, 2021 at 12:14 pm
Gruden probably thought he burned us when he went to raiders and we showed interest
He is las vegas problem now
10 years – 100 mil
Nah we’re good
Super bowl champs and next year already looking bright
February 10th, 2021 at 12:16 pm
Wow he’d rather see his rival Chiefs win???? Well almost all players current and ex would rather see anyone than their rivals win. I used to be a Gruden fan but he soured me now.
February 10th, 2021 at 12:17 pm
80% of America just knew Bucs would lose!!!
We not only won but we stomped them into the ground!
February 10th, 2021 at 12:17 pm
I’ll always cherish that first SB and everyone involved. Especially Chucky, no matter what he did to the team after it. Want to see a grown man cry? Pop in that SB DVD and when Chucky raises that trophy I cry every, single time. It’s been 20 years.
This one was special too, prolly cause practically no one thought they had a prayer and they dominated the Chiefs. Who saw THAT coming? Not me I picked Bucs 35 Chiefs 31. Then there’s Brady. We have the GOAT and that’s been LOTS of fun watching him gel with the offense. Next year should be sick too!
I’ve been rooting against Tom Brady for about 15 years, just cause he was so damn good. Started doing that with Mahomies too after they won the SB last year. Cause he’s so damn good. It’s much easier rooting FOR Brady.
Go Bucs!!!
February 10th, 2021 at 12:20 pm
If gruden ego didn’t get in the way. Could of been him again in Tampa. Sooo glad he wanted nothing to do with the Bucs. Take Arians all day. Gruden proves year after year he can’t build a team
February 10th, 2021 at 12:20 pm
I know what Gruden said, but the fact that Brady was leading the Bucs couldn’t have helped. He’s be lying if Gruden said he wasn’t still bitter about the tuck-rule game either.
February 10th, 2021 at 12:23 pm
He did say they they were rooting for the Chiefs “a little bit.” So maybe they did really want the Bucs to win in the end.
Funny he’s still calling them the Devil Rays.
February 10th, 2021 at 12:23 pm
Oh yeah I also think the game has passed him by and the Raiders are wasting a TON of money on him.
February 10th, 2021 at 12:23 pm
Yup grudens peoblem is “i like that guy”
He likes every player at some point. Terrible with evaluating talent
February 10th, 2021 at 12:25 pm
The reality is, is that Chucky should’ve won at least one more ring with the core of talent we had. I get it, we gave up a lot of resources to pluck him from the Raiders. When we shut out the Eagles the start of that 03 season, my confidence was as high as ever that we probably would repeat. It was just a lack of consistancy the whole year, we could’nt string any wins together. Win, lose, win, lose, win, lose. As good as that defense was, boy did we get hammered with the run that year. I don’t know who remembers, but the Panthers dominated on both sides of the LOS, in bot games! I loved Monte Kiffin, but our defense definetly had to evolve after that SB win, just too damn vanilla. I don’t think complacency with happen this time, with Brady at the helm. Go Bucs!
February 10th, 2021 at 12:26 pm
I get it but it is crazy that Jon Gruden still hold a grudge against a team he made history with. That might have been his only Super Bowl title. Coaches and player all know that you’re going to get fired if you don’t produce. It is just business…..nothing personal.
February 10th, 2021 at 12:27 pm
I’m not sure that Jay can speak for John. As someone pointed out above, He’s been inducted into the Ring of Honor, and he seemed quite happy about it.
February 10th, 2021 at 12:37 pm
Maybe if Gruden hadn’t overseen the decimation of the Bucs roster by handpicking a GM who couldn’t draft his way out of a paper bag, and coached the team to mediocrity in all but 1 of his seasons, he might’ve kept his job. Now he’s a little b*tch.
February 10th, 2021 at 12:38 pm
Ironically, Gruden and his Raiders lost 13-16 in overtime during the AFC Divisional Playoff Game against Brady and the Patriots. After this loss, the Raiders traded Gruden to the Bucs. Good news, the Bucs beat the Raiders in the Super Bowl in the following year. He got revenge on the Raider but not on Brady.
February 10th, 2021 at 12:38 pm
You see, this is a prime example of no devotion in the NFL. It is just about the money to too many people. I enjoy players and coaches who are real such as Mike Evans and Tom Brady. Here are two guys who actually get into the team they are on. Both have taken money from themselves to try and help keep a team intact and are selfless players that devote to their team. That is the player I root for and the coaches are no different.
February 10th, 2021 at 12:45 pm
Yawn, Jay Gruden’s record as an NFL HC is 35-49-1
Chucky’ s is 114-110
Bottomline is they are “average” head coaches at best.
For a gut wrenching bounty given up by the Bucs to get him, Chucky inherited a team that already had a SB ready type defense when he came to Tampa. Sure, he sprinkled some offensive magic dust on the team and brought the Bucs their first championship, and for that I will always be grateful.
However, I’ve seen many Chucky games living out here on the west coast with many friends and family members who are diehard Raider fans, and I can tell you that after years of seeing him being a HC for Bucs and then the Raiders, he is truly just an average HC.
So frankly, it sounds like the Gruden boys are just jealous. As I said to start, yawn….
February 10th, 2021 at 12:51 pm
My heart has frozen for Jon Gruden.
They are very small people not worthy of admiration.
I wonder who the Grudens rooted for in the Bics/FTFKATR playoff game?
I have now become an anti-Raider “fan.”
February 10th, 2021 at 12:52 pm
Keep in mind these are JAY GRUDEN comments…….now, he probably somewhat speaks for his Brother….but not necessarily exactly…
February 10th, 2021 at 1:10 pm
Love Chucky, he brought the first SB to Tampa, but…. at what point do we look at his career and use the word overrated?
February 10th, 2021 at 1:12 pm
Jon Gruden rooting for division rival Chiefs… the true definition of a narcissist and a hater. He did his best to put his stamp on the Bucs… and by year two they were a terrible team (personnel wise) because of it. Often failing or refusing to invest in more explosive rookies and young players with potential in favor of older washed up veterans that knew his system. He’s a good coach… but among the worst personnel men in the history of football. He and dummy Allen laughed when Thomas Jones took a million less per year and a year less on a contract to play in Chicago than they gave washed up Charlie Garner. Then Gruden drafted notable busts Clayton, Williams, Adams… yes, I said Williams. Three straight 100 yard games to start his career may have elevated him to God status for some of you, but his six 100 yard games the rest of his career proved my point. Gruden was a team wrecker.
February 10th, 2021 at 1:17 pm
Like myself, Jay is a Chamberlain Chief. He was also the starting QB when he went to school there. Maybe that’s what he meant about rooting for the Chiefs 😂
February 10th, 2021 at 1:18 pm
Screw em both
GO BUCS
February 10th, 2021 at 1:23 pm
@ Brandon,
I def agree with you. He is not a great developer of talent in my opinion. The best draft picks he had under him were Trueblood and Joseph, besides that, nobody that truly made a huge difference!
February 10th, 2021 at 1:26 pm
Maybe its time to remove the bronze statue of Chucky in the lobby at Buc Place? Maybe a new one with TB12, Gronk, Mike Evans, Devin White and Vita Vea. Ready for SB56!
February 10th, 2021 at 1:31 pm
I take that back. Tanard Jackson was a good pick, but we all know how that turned out!
February 10th, 2021 at 1:34 pm
Funny that Chucky was more than willing to take a place in the Ring of Honor w the Bucs…hypocrisy
February 10th, 2021 at 1:34 pm
It’s all good. Don’t care what the haters say. The Bucs are still going to Disneyworld.
February 10th, 2021 at 2:03 pm
The only thing these old Bucs coaches, dungy included, root for are their legacy. Dungy and his entire family looked like they wanted nothing to do with Tampa the way they were dressed at the super bowl. Self centered coaches who seemingly forgotten their fans. Sad all the way around.
February 10th, 2021 at 2:24 pm
Hypocrites, you loved
Coach when he was with The Bucs. Not at all now.,Cobraboy, anti Raider Fan ? meaning U don’t like us. As if we care. I think S. B. LV was bought. jmo.
February 10th, 2021 at 2:27 pm
The Gruden’s and NDog were lying together watching the game! Moaning, whining and crying!!
February 10th, 2021 at 2:29 pm
The Gruden’s and NDOG were lying together watching the game, moaning, Whining and crying!!
February 10th, 2021 at 2:37 pm
1987
I won’t say that I cry when I watch our 1st SB on DVD… but I will admit to having some sort of an allergic reaction that causes my eyes to water.
February 10th, 2021 at 2:46 pm
This is BAs town now Jon—Crown Royals all around!
February 10th, 2021 at 3:09 pm
Joes: when EXACTLY and at WHAT position did Jay Gruden coach the Bucs??
February 10th, 2021 at 3:12 pm
al davis would roll in his grave knowing his own coach supported the chiefs even for a second
February 10th, 2021 at 3:25 pm
Doosh
For me it’s always the Jurevicious play…
Probably for what he was going through.. gets me every time. “ I’ve never seen Joe run that fast. Ever”- Deckerhoff
February 10th, 2021 at 3:55 pm
Jay Gruden: Tampa Bay Storm Legend.
(Do you remember? I remember)
February 10th, 2021 at 3:59 pm
[There isn’t one thing misleading about it. — Joe]
“Reading comprehension,” what is it?
Congrats to Tampa Bay. I enjoyed the rout and won some cash. Maybe I can donate it to a Tampa Bay “learn to read” program.
You seem to need it lol…
February 10th, 2021 at 4:06 pm
Theresa White…KC was/is the 4th most penalized team in the NFL.
February 10th, 2021 at 4:20 pm
My daughter worked at Hooters for a bit. While Chuckster was in between jobs he brought his fam in for wings one night. My daughter called me pretty excited…”I’m waiting on Jon Gruden and his wife!”
I ask her, “Are they nice?”
She says yeah, really nice.”
I said buy him a beer on us, I’ll pay ya back.
So she did.
I wouldn’t have asked her to if I knew this was how he felt. Screw’em.
February 10th, 2021 at 5:20 pm
Jon got a $100 Million contract because he won a Super Bowl in Tampa. Jay got a HC job because of that too. With a little retrospective they should both be HUGE Bucs fans.
February 10th, 2021 at 5:21 pm
Tampa Bay is undefeated in the Super Bowl!
February 10th, 2021 at 5:49 pm
Jay Gruden.
It is not the Devil Rays.
February 10th, 2021 at 5:55 pm
Kinda surprised Gruden liked his division rival over his former team, after all he always refered to the bucs as his home team when he worked at BSPN and lived in the area.
They call him CHUCKY for a reason I guess, he has a reputation for being two-faced with players.
February 10th, 2021 at 6:08 pm
Haven’t heard anyone call them the Devil Rays in a long time.
That’s how I think of them myself.
February 10th, 2021 at 8:04 pm
How are you not going to call him Arena Football Legend Jay Gruden, those pictures of him in his Tampa Bay Storm zubaz’s are pretty amazing. Those games in the early 90s, before the Rays existed and when the Lightning were still playing at the fairgrounds, and you’d have 25k a for a Storm game, it was fantastic.
February 10th, 2021 at 8:10 pm
And then they inducted you into the ring of honor you prick. Way to root for your home team.
February 10th, 2021 at 8:13 pm
Dungy>Gruden
February 10th, 2021 at 8:14 pm
What did the Raiders pay and give Gruden to come to Las Vegas? What did the Bucs give up and pay Arians?
Damn thats gotta sting…
February 10th, 2021 at 8:16 pm
Doesn’t surprise me coming from those overrated frauds. Barely over .500 win percentage but for some reason people considered to be great coaches. Don’t get it. Bucs dodged a bullet not rehiring Jon a few years back.
February 10th, 2021 at 8:16 pm
We’re super bowls champs
February 10th, 2021 at 10:34 pm
Jmarkbuc, the mere mention of that Jurevicius play brings happy tears to my eyes and always will. “You go, Joe.” Those three words and that image of him streaking down the field will bring me joy for the rest of my life. And here’s a fun factoid for everyone. Since the inception of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 1976, the Super Bowl LV Champions as a franchise have never lost two games in one season to an AFC team (regular season and playoffs). I hope that record never changes. WORLD CHAMPIONS!!!!!!!!
February 10th, 2021 at 10:48 pm
Gruden took DUNGYS team to the super bowl!! They probably would have been there that year anyway!!….. He’s a hack!!
February 11th, 2021 at 1:08 am
See, here is a perfect example of what I call no devotion in the NFL
February 11th, 2021 at 5:02 am
It’s just a business…..Remember? Funny how that sentiment gets turned on and off like a switch.
February 11th, 2021 at 5:21 am
Dungy couldn’t win with Dungy’s players. Let alone under his tutelage, the offense was incapable of scoring a single touchdown in playoff games against Philly.
February 11th, 2021 at 8:55 am
@Joes
Just FYI I would not have read this had I know THAT WAS A JAY GRUDEN QUOTE! You guys really disappoint me every now and then with the click bait. LOL. Gruden referenced Chucky and said “we” in his quote. And considering they are tight, per the entire interview, Joe hardly considers it click bait.–Joe