As the Ravens prepare for the upcoming NFL season, head coach John Harbaugh introduced a surprising but insightful presence at the team’s OTAs: former Buccaneers and Raiders head coach Jon Gruden.
Gruden, who hasn't coached since stepping down from his role with the Raiders in 2021, used his keen football mind to offer fresh perspectives during the Ravens' Thursday and Friday sessions. According to Harbaugh, Gruden’s observations were a treasure trove of strategic insights.
“He loves football, he’s a great football coach, great football mind,” Harbaugh noted. “He studied our team, gave us some insight — players, coaches, schemes, all of it. We didn’t give him the playbook, we didn’t give him a script either. You can only go so far. He studied us. Basically, the message was, ‘If I was game planning against you on defense, what would I do, how would I attack you?’ He didn’t just stop there. He watched our offensive guys. He had something for each player. Very, very detailed.”
While Gruden’s official coaching future remains uncertain, his ambition to return to the sidelines was reignited earlier this year. In the meantime, the Ravens seem poised to leverage his expertise for a tactical edge throughout the season.
Gruden’s detailed assessments of the Ravens' players and strategies might not translate into an immediate comeback to coaching, but they certainly fortify Baltimore’s preparation efforts as another challenging NFL season looms.
