Overview
- The Buccaneers announced Thursday that Jon Gruden and former cornerback Ronde Barber will handle the live broadcast for the team’s August 22 preseason home game against the Kansas City Chiefs.
- Gruden will serve as the play-by-play announcer for the game, marking a concrete on-field audition for the comeback he has publicly sought.
- Barber brings long experience calling Buccaneers preseason games and will pair with Gruden to provide team history and game analysis from the booth.
- Gruden’s 2021 resignation after offensive emails and his ongoing civil lawsuit accusing the NFL of leaking those messages remain unresolved and continue to constrain league-wide broadcast opportunities.
- Gruden’s work with Barstool Sports, including a reported new show with his brother Jay, gives him an independent platform and makes preseason and local broadcasts a likely path back to wider roles if the trial is viewed as successful.