CORAL GABLES, FLA. (AP) - An ESPN executive said Wednesday he expected Jon Gruden to stay in broadcasting and not return to coaching.
The Super Bowl-winning former Tampa Bay and Oakland coach has been linked to the opening at the University of Miami. Gruden was hired as an analyst for “Monday Night Football” before last season after being fired by the Buccaneers.
Asked if he thought Gruden would remain with the network, ESPN executive vice president Norby Williamson said, “Absolutely.”
“My feeling is Jon is in Year 2 of a long-term contract, and we expect Jon to be on ’Monday Night Football’ doing what he’s been doing for a long time to come,” Williamson said on a conference call about ESPN’s baseball announcers.
But Williamson also went on a long tangent about how it was worth the risk to hire announcers who might soon return to coaching if it meant having the top talent, however briefly.
Gruden had issued a statement through ESPN late Sunday, saying “I am committed to ’Monday Night Football’ and to ESPN.”
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