Jon Gruden
Quick Bio: Tennessee’s white whale is back on everyone’s mind. “Grumors” have already been swirling around Tennessee’s football program for the last month, and expect them to only intensify now that the Vols’ head coaching position is actually open.
Pros: Jon Gruden has won a Super Bowl and has kept his mind fresh on football despite being with ESPN and out of coaching for nearly a decade. He’s largely considered a quarterback guru, and he had success as an NFL head coach and has remained in the spotlight with ESPN.
Cons/Questions: There’s no guarantee Gruden will have success as a college head coach. And even though he’s kept his mind sharply focused on football while at ESPN, it’s still been since 2008 that he’s been on a sideline as a head coach. How would he adjust from the NFL rules and regulations to the collegiate ranks? Gruden has a high ceiling, but he also has many questions to answer.
Jimbo Fisher
Quick Bio: Jimbo Fisher was once one of the kings of college football. He’s still one of the top 10 coaches in the NCAA, but his Florida State team this year has taken a massive step back because of an injury to his star quarterback and other issues. There’s speculation that there’s unrest at FSU as well, and some believe Fisher may be looking to get out.
Pros: Despite the down year this year, Fisher has had a stellar track record. He won a national title with the Seminoles and has taken them to the Chick Fil A/Peach Bowl twice, the Orange Bowl twice, and the Rose Bowl. He’s also coached some very good quarterbacks at Florida State.
Cons/Questions: Fisher would be extremely expensive, and there’s no guarantee he actually wants to leave FSU. Getting him would be a huge get, but it’s not very likely. But there aren’t a ton of questions about Fisher given his track record.
Mike Tomlin
Quick Bio: Mike Tomlin is widely regarded as one of the better coaches in the NFL. He’s coached the Pittsburgh Steelers since 2007 and has taken them to two Super Bowls and won one of them. He’s proven himself at the highest level, and there’s reportedly some interest for the Tennessee job from him or his camp.
Pros: What more is there to say? He’s won a Super Bowl and has been highly successful with one of the best franchises in the NFL. He’s a defensive mind who knows how to hire assistants to help out in other areas.
Cons/Questions: Tomlin has never been a head coach in the college ranks and hasn’t coached in college since 2000. Plus, how much interest does he actually have? This feels like a very long shot of happening, but Tomlin has been around Tennessee’s campus multiple times and would be a home run hire if it happened.
