The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have fired head coach Jon Gruden, in a move that was unexpected to many. The Buccaneers finished the season on a terrible note, losing their last four games after going 9-3 in their first 12 games. Those last two losses were especially devastating, as they came against the San Diego Chargers and the Oakland Raiders, with both of them at home.
Up until that game against Chargers, the Buccaneers were 6-0 at home. The loss against the Raiders cost them a playoff spot, which went to the Philadelphia Eagles. In those last four losses, the Buccaneers defense started to slip. This came after defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin said that he was joining his son Lane Kiffin at the University of Tennessee.
Gruden was the coach of the Buccaneers since the 2002 season, when he won the Super Bowl against his former team, the Oakland Raiders. Gruden was hired after the Buccaneers fired Tony Dungy. Dungy just announced his retirement from coaching after a successful coaching stint with the Indianapolis Colts, including winning a Super Bowl.
This firing of Gruden is definitely surprising. I didn't think Gruden was in trouble after finishing 9-7. Also, this firing comes kind of late, when teams are already starting to hire head coaches. There are still a couple of viable candidates available. However, I don't understand what direction they're trying to go in. I think this could end up being a mistake.
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