Jon Gruden returns to the Monday Night Football booth alongside Mike Tirico tonight for the Buffalo Bills versus Cleveland Browns preseason game (ESPN, 8 p.m. ET). While Gruden is clearly ready for the return of the NFL season, it doesn’t take long to recognize how passionate he is about all football, including the high school level.
Earlier this month, Gruden visited ESPN’s Bristol, Conn., campus on behalf of Dick’s Sports Goods Foundation’s “Sports Matter” program. Gruden is an ambassador for the initiative, which helps hundreds of public schools fund their sports programs. Gruden has worked tirelessly to raise awareness about the youth sports funding crisis through his own Fired Football Coaches Association (FFCA) in Tampa. Those efforts will continue with local events in several MNF cities this fall.
During his visit to Bristol, Gruden spoke with Front Row about “Sports Matter,” his first visit to the SportsCenter set, and what he expects from ESPN’s Philadelphia Eagles-Atlanta Falcons MNF season-opener on Sept. 14.
Video produced by Jonothon Halley McLeod
