The Arkansas Razorbacks are looking for their next coach after firing Sam Pittman. One of the candidates who finds himself with improving odds is a former NFL head coach.
Could Jon Gruden Get the Arkansas Job?
What do you think… did Gruden predict his own future? 👀
Here he is at the Little Rock Touchdown Club in 2022, take a look! @BarstoolGruden pic.twitter.com/DhkGBZfcmM— LR Touchdown Club (@LRTouchdownClub) September 30, 2025
Could Arkansas take a chance on someone who hasn’t been a coach at the college level since the early ’90s?
Jon Gruden (+500) has made it clear that he wants to coach again. Gruden is currently an employee at Barstool Sports, but the 62-year-old would probably leave comedy for another crack at coaching.
Gruden has 15 years of head coaching experience with the Oakland Raiders and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Gruden was the coach of the Raiders when they relocated to Las Vegas in 2020.
Gruden resigned in October 2021 after leaked emails revealed he used homophobic, racist, and misogynistic slurs.
In 2023, Gruden took his first step back into coaching by serving as a consultant for the 2023 New Orleans Saints.
Gruden has no head coaching experience at the college level. His last college stint came as the wide receivers coach for the 1991 Pittsburgh Panthers.
Gruden is an offensive-minded coach with a magnetic passion for the game. Gruden would be an outside-the-box hire. However, that might be exactly what Arkansas needs.
The Razorbacks have not won double-digit games in a season since 2011.
Next Arkansas Head Coach Odds
| Arkansas Next Head Coach | Odds |
|---|---|
| Ryan Silverfield | +100 |
| Alex Golesh | +200 |
| Jon Gruden | +500 |
| Bobby Petrino | +1000 |
| Eric Morris | +1400 |
| Jon Sumrall | +1800 |
| Guz Malzahn | +2000 |
| Deion Sanders | +2500 |
| Jeff Traylor | +3300 |
| Jimbo Fisher | +4000 |
| Jeff Monken | +5000 |
| Barry Lunney Jr. | +5000 |
| Brian Kelly | +6000 |
Gruden is third on BetOnline’s list of candidates.
Memphis’ Ryan Silverfield (+100) remains the favorite to be the next Arkansas head coach. Silverfield is 50–24 at Memphis, with at least 10 wins in 2023 and 2024.
With Memphis out of playoff contention, Arkansas could make a play for Silverfield as soon as the Tigers’ season ends on Nov. 27.
USF’s Alex Golesh (+200) is a fast riser in the college football ranks. Golesh took over in 2023, inheriting a 1-11 team from the season prior. Golesh led the Bulls to a 7-6 record and a bowl victory.
USF already has seven wins with two games remaining this season.
Bobby Petrino (+1000) is Arkansas’ interim head coach. Petrino was the head coach of the Razorbacks from 2008 to 2011, which included a 10- and 11-win season.
Other names on the list include North Texas’ Eric Morris (+1400), Tulane’s Jon Sumrall (+1800), and former national championship-winning coach Jimbo Fisher (+4000).
