Bengals offensive coordinator Jay Gruden has been a name associated for vacant head coaching positions in Jacksonville, with idle (aka, waiting for Jeff Fisher) interest from the St. Louis Rams. In the end none of it really mattered. According to NFL Network Insider Jason La Canfora, Jay Gruden is going to remain in Cincinnati as the Bengals offensive coordinator.
@JasonLaCanfora
Jason La CanforaJay Gruden will not be interviewing for head coaching jobs. Very happy in Cincy. Rams and Jags wanted to talk him. #insideslant
4 minutes ago via Twitter for BlackBerry® · powered by @socialditto
Albert Breer initially reported that Gruden was the favorite candidate for the vacant head coaching position for the Jacksonville Jaguars, going so far as to say that Gruden told the Jaguars that he was interested -- though Gruden denied any communication took place between himself and any NFL team.
On Tuesday reports surfaced that the St. Louis Rams were interested, even reportedly scheduling an interview on Thursday.
UPDATE: Joe Reedy of the Cincinnati Enquirer confirms.
@joereedy
Joe ReedyJust talked to Gruden: It is official, he is staying for 2012. Says he has unfinished business and likes the direction of the offense. 2 minutes ago via Twittelator · powered by @socialditto
As did Brad Johansen, Local 12 Sports Director:
@bradjohansen
Brad JohansenJust confirmed @local12 following conversation with Bengals, Jay Gruden "will not pursue other coaching opportunities" and happy to stay. 2 minutes ago via TweetDeck · powered by @socialditto
And Joe Danneman from Fox 19:
@FOX19Joe
Joe DannemanBengals confirm to FOX19 that offensive coordinator Jay Gruden is "happy in Cincinnati and not pursuing other jobs." 1 minute ago via web · powered by @socialditto
2 recs | 57 comments
this is great news
Cedric Benson Boat Party - January 10, 2012
Good news on 2 levels
1. It will give a very young offense some consistency.
2. It shows that the Bengals have turned a page as far as people wanting to be here.
emeybee - January 10, 2012 via mobile
+ 1
jimbasa - January 10, 2012
+1
Especially with regard to your second comment. This is huge! He must REALLY like it here and WANT to be here if he won’t even so much as merely interview for a HC position. Also, for those saying that the Rams and Jags are garbage jobs and that they aren’t appealing,since there are only 32 such jobs available, they are all appealing (some are more appealing than others, but all are appealing). Plus, Head Coaches are generally very proud people, and they all think they can turn any organization around, no matter how dire the organization appears. This news speaks volumes about jay’s sincere desire to stay here!
Here’s to a top 10 (or higher) offense in 2012!!
The_Black_Stripes - January 10, 2012
Great new just for the continuity for development
of our young offense. Not to mention I think Jay will be a great playcaller with a few more options and more experienced players.
Luke - January 10, 2012
very very pleased
With this news.
Hines_Wards_Tears - January 10, 2012
Good because their may be a HC vacancie for our team next year
AMAS85 - January 10, 2012
I was thinking the same thing
Do you think the alien that took over Mike Brown’s brain actually thought ahead when he hired Jay and said get acclamated to the team for a couple of years and get your feet wet and then you will be in a position to take over as HC once Marvin’s deal is up.
biggie22 - January 10, 2012
Look for our offense to explode next year!!!
pray4gm11 - January 10, 2012 via mobile
NICE!
I can’t wait to see what he can do with a full offseason, especially now that he has an even better feel of the players’ abilities. It would have been a shame if he’d become a head coach because we’d have had no way of knowing what he can really do as an offensive coordinator.
sexsalad - January 10, 2012
Pumped about this.
This makes the draft even better. Can’t wait to see how Dalton’s sophmore season unfolds with Shipley in the picture.
redrifle14 - January 10, 2012
Gruden also probably realizes
That those are garbage jobs that would be setting himself up for failure.
Regardless, good news!
Anthony Cosenza - January 10, 2012
The job in St. Louis doesn't look terrible.
Got a solid quarterback and RB, with #2 drafting slot. Need to work on the line and get another receiver, but you could make something happen with that situation I think.
Now Jacksonville would a tough place to succeed, though.
Luke - January 10, 2012
Yeah I had my doubts that he would leave
and the turd his offense laid in Houston didn’t help his changes either.
Relieved he is staying. Now if he can get us a +1200 yards RB out of the draft for 2012, he’ll have a power house offense next season.
BENGALS69 - January 10, 2012
Nice
Oregonbengalsfan - January 10, 2012
all signs pointing towards a RB and SS in the first round!
AMAS85 - January 10, 2012
all signs pointing towards a RB and SS in the first round!
AMAS85 - January 10, 2012
Exactly what I was thinking
SCbengalsfan - January 10, 2012 via mobile
How many years left on Marvin's contract???
Might Gruden be positioning himself to take over in Cincy? I’ve actually been a fan of Marvin, so I’m not suggesting anything here. But still…just sayin.
M Shop - January 10, 2012
i said the same thing
thats why i think both zimmer and gruden stay. THey will have better personal here, if Marvin has another bust season.
AMAS85 - January 10, 2012
1 more season left on Marvin's deal. Prove it or bust.
DTFCPDX - January 10, 2012
+1000
keithster - January 10, 2012
Uh-Oh u know what im thinking??
Jermaine Gresham is going to have a similar year like Gronkowski of the Patriots
and AJ “Optimus Prime” Green is going to have a Huge Year with 90+ Rec and over 1400yds and 11TD’s
Touhue Cha - January 10, 2012
Gresham time
Just think, if Gruden had left, it would be Gresham’s third OC in his three years here. We all need to remember that yes, he did not have a great season, not awful, but not great, but he was also learning a new system along with everyone else. Not only does this help Dalton and Green’s development, but Gresham’s as well.
Ben-GAL - January 11, 2012
great news.
now we must retain Zimmer.
keithster - January 10, 2012
nice
palewook - January 10, 2012
WHO DEY!
Bigcatdaddy - January 10, 2012 via Android app
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
I think we have our theme for 2012.
Israeli - January 10, 2012
I love it
You called iy Israeli.
Bigcatdaddy - January 10, 2012 via Android app
+100
cincyboi - January 10, 2012 via mobile
Good news.
Gruden didn’t light it up here, but he did show some things. There were a couple of problems, but this year he’ll have full off-season and a sophomore QB and WR instead of rookies. Hopefully we’ll have a top-half offence.
Aether - January 10, 2012
How stupid is Albert Breer?
jimbasa - January 10, 2012
No kidding.
Unless the Jags wanted him and fabricated part of the story, but i doubt it.
redrifle14 - January 10, 2012
Its Great to see a coach that is loyal to a program
*cough *cough Urban Meyer *cough *cough
WHO DEY!!
Tampa_Bengal - January 10, 2012
He is loyal.....
He always said Ohio State was his dream job, so he was true to his word and jumped on it when the opportunity came. :)
Ben-GAL - January 11, 2012
The coach I think was disloyal more than any
was Brian Kelly. He left for ND before Cincinnati’s bowl game, after they had a great season.
Oregonbengalsfan - January 11, 2012
Anybody else get the notion that Gruden's agent was behind
the smoke signals for his client? Kind of building a brand around his guy?
BENGALS69 - January 10, 2012
Smart move for Jay.
If he failed as a HC in the NFL, he’d have a hard time getting his next gig if teams were worried about his commitment.
Pardon_My_French - January 10, 2012
+1
I think its too premature for him to take a head coaching right now its good to get more experience as the OC and then venture onward
Tampa_Bengal - January 10, 2012
Also, I think he knows that he's got a lot invested in Dalton.
He’s tied to Dalton for going nuts about him pre-draft. If he can turn him from a good rookie to a great pro, he’s got it made for a while. Plus, he still loves Dalton. As others have mentioned above, he might be the guy to end up taking over if Marv isn’t extended after next season. He’d get to take over a head coaching job with the quarterback he hand-picked. That’d be a good gig.
Pardon_My_French - January 10, 2012
I was thinking the same
Plus it’s a good sign that we really so have a bright future. If he didn’t see a big up side to this team he would’ve jumped ship first chance he got. Lol even though it was his first chance. Also going to a bad team and blowing it would kill his chances of getting back in a HC position but he wouldn’t have stayed if he didn’t think we could get better. Cause that could kill his chances as well.
Bigcatdaddy - January 10, 2012 via Android app
Everything I've read states Marvin pointed out Dalton to Gruden
Now that doesn’t mean Gruden didn’t immediately become enamored with Dalton and go nuts about him, but yeah.
Oregonbengalsfan - January 10, 2012
Huh, I never heard that, but I'm sure you're right.
Either way, Gruden absolutely telegraphed the pick when the reports came out about how much he loved Dalton. Andy is his guy.
Pardon_My_French - January 10, 2012
Yeah he did that.
I had just finished reading an article the other day looking back at the beginning of the season about how as soon as Gruden arrived, Marvin said “hey check out this Dalton from TCU”
Oregonbengalsfan - January 10, 2012
Very Happy!!!!
BonnieBengal - January 10, 2012
NIICCCCEEEEE
good start to the offseason
ticalcaldwell - January 10, 2012
Well
Benson will almost surely be gone now
SCbengalsfan - January 10, 2012 via mobile
Hell yes!!! Who Dey!!
DonMegga - January 10, 2012 via mobile
Awesome news........
we needed another full year under this system and a few new weapons. We now will get both.
The Van Buren Boys - January 10, 2012
I already liked Gruden...
But what he said raises my level of respect for him. “unfinished business” he didnt just race to the first H.C job. He knows offers will continue to come if this offense keeps getting better. And hey, maybe he can be the next Bengals Head coach in a few years……
cincyboi - January 10, 2012 via mobile
Sweet!
Really really like this guy. Now lets get him a better OL and a couple playmakers for this offense!
TCfromDubVee - January 10, 2012
This is just wonderful
Helmsy - January 10, 2012
My respect for Jay Gruden just went from 10 to 11
Wow. If these reports are true (and there seem to be too many of them for it to be a false rumor) then Jay Gruden just won a TON of points in my book. Even if he bails after next year (hopefully with a SB ring) he’s got my fandom.
eric nyc - January 10, 2012
This makes me 100 times more confident in our offense next season
Gruden will have a full offseason to get everyone playing the way he wants them to. Also, with the comments he had about Benson, once he gets “his guy” in there at RB it could be a very potent offense
Helmsy - January 10, 2012
Id be more concerned
About losing gruden than zimmer. Marvin could put a d staff together well. But if gruden left and took his 0 staff with him…..Oh boy
quickslant - January 10, 2012 via mobile
This is the best news I have heard all day!
pemci - January 10, 2012
Awesome
I took him for the kind of guy who would want to see this through. I think he has to know that he’s a shoe-in for HC here if he sticks around.
Throw the ball - January 11, 2012
You must Login with your SB Nation account and be a member of Cincy Jungle to post a comment.