JON GRUDEN FIRED
- Thread starter Thizzapher
- Start date
Tampa Bye: Buccaneers fire Gruden
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have fired coach Jon Gruden and general manager Bruce Allen after the team collapsed following a 9-3 start and failed to make the playoffs.
Gruden, who helped lead the Buccaneers to a victory over the Oakland Raiders in Super Bowl XXXVII in 2003, was Tampa Bay's coach for seven years before being dismissed Friday. Allen was general manager for the last five seasons.
"We will be forever grateful to Jon for bringing us the Super Bowl title, and we thank Bruce for his contributions to our franchise," Buccaneers Co-Chairman Joel Glazer said in the announcement. "However after careful consideration, we feel that this decision is in the best interest of our organization moving forward."
Gruden seemed shocked when he told his staff of his firing, assistant coaches told FOXSports.com on Friday. The future of the assistants was not immediately clear.
Gruden met with ownership earlier this week, and came out of the meeting feeling as if he had one more year to right the Bucs' ship, the assistant coaches said. However, ownership did not meet with Gruden or Allen immediately after the season, a sign that they were more than disappointed with the Bucs' late-season demise.
The Buccaneers were tied for first place in the NFC South heading into December, but finished with losses to Carolina and Atlanta on the road and San Diego and Oakland at home, where they had been 6-0. One more win would have landed a NFC wild-card berth.
The 9-7 record this season left Tampa out of the playoffs for the fourth time in six years.
Immediate speculation is that the team will look to hire a big-name coach who is not currently coaching, such as Bill Cowher or Mike Shanahan. That speculation, however, has not been confirmed.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have fired coach Jon Gruden and general manager Bruce Allen after the team collapsed following a 9-3 start and failed to make the playoffs.
Gruden, who helped lead the Buccaneers to a victory over the Oakland Raiders in Super Bowl XXXVII in 2003, was Tampa Bay's coach for seven years before being dismissed Friday. Allen was general manager for the last five seasons.
"We will be forever grateful to Jon for bringing us the Super Bowl title, and we thank Bruce for his contributions to our franchise," Buccaneers Co-Chairman Joel Glazer said in the announcement. "However after careful consideration, we feel that this decision is in the best interest of our organization moving forward."
Gruden seemed shocked when he told his staff of his firing, assistant coaches told FOXSports.com on Friday. The future of the assistants was not immediately clear.
Gruden met with ownership earlier this week, and came out of the meeting feeling as if he had one more year to right the Bucs' ship, the assistant coaches said. However, ownership did not meet with Gruden or Allen immediately after the season, a sign that they were more than disappointed with the Bucs' late-season demise.
The Buccaneers were tied for first place in the NFC South heading into December, but finished with losses to Carolina and Atlanta on the road and San Diego and Oakland at home, where they had been 6-0. One more win would have landed a NFC wild-card berth.
The 9-7 record this season left Tampa out of the playoffs for the fourth time in six years.
Immediate speculation is that the team will look to hire a big-name coach who is not currently coaching, such as Bill Cowher or Mike Shanahan. That speculation, however, has not been confirmed.
What Kiffin are you talking about? Lane Kiffin will be coaching at the University of Tennessee next year along with his dad Monte Kiffin former Tampa Bay Buc Def coach.
What if Gruden goes back to oakland haha.
But for the record of fired coaches this year i think its
rams
raiders
bucs
broncos
lions
jets
browns
and the retired coaches are holmgren and tony dungy i think
What if Gruden goes back to oakland haha.
But for the record of fired coaches this year i think its
rams
raiders
bucs
broncos
lions
jets
browns
and the retired coaches are holmgren and tony dungy i think
