ESPN has locked up Jon Gruden through the end of its NFL television deal.
ESPN NFL analyst Jon Gruden has reached a contract extension with the network through the end of the 2021 season, the final year of ESPN’s Monday Night Football contract. The deal was announced on-air during Monday’s Saints/Bears game. Gruden was in the third year of a five-year contract extension through 2016.
Gruden has been with ESPN since 2009, replacing Tony Kornheiser in what was then a three-man booth. Assuming he stays with ESPN for the duration of the contract, the sought-after coach will have been out of the game for 13 seasons.
In addition, Gruden would rank among the longest-tenured MNF broadcasters — trailing only Frank Gifford (27), Al Michaels (20), Howard Cosell (14) and by that point Mike Tirico (16) in terms of seasons worked.
(Mon. news from ESPN Media Zone)
