You know that feeling when you see someone unexpected at a party, and suddenly the whole vibe of the room shifts? That’s pretty much what happened in Ann Arbor recently.
If you’ve been scrolling through Twitter or listening to sports radio, you’ve probably heard the whispers. Jon Gruden—Super Bowl winner, former Monday Night Football voice, and a guy who just can’t seem to stay away from a gridiron—was spotted in Ann Arbor. And he wasn’t just passing through for a sandwich at Zingerman’s. He was decked out in Michigan gear, hanging out at practice.
Now, usually, a visiting coach is just a visiting coach. But when you connect the dots between Gruden, head coach Sherrone Moore, and the absolute crusade Michigan is on to land the nation’s top quarterback, Bryce Underwood, things get interesting. Really interesting.
The “Gruden Effect” in Ann Arbor
Let’s just be real for a second. Seeing Jon Gruden in Michigan colors is weird. He’s an Ohio guy. He was born in Sandusky. He coached at Dayton. But there he was, wearing team-issued gear, looking like he was ready to call a “Spider 2 Y Banana” right then and there.
This wasn’t a formal hiring announcement. It was Gruden visiting a friend. He and Sherrone Moore have a relationship that goes back a bit, and Moore has been picking the brains of offensive masterminds all season. But the timing? The timing is everything.
Michigan’s offense this year has been… well, let’s call it a “struggle” to be polite. The quarterback play has been erratic. The passing game lacks teeth. Fans are frustrated. So when a guy known for being a quarterback guru shows up, people start connecting dots that maybe aren’t even there yet.
But here is where the story pivots from “famous coach visits practice” to “this could change the future of the program.”
It’s about the recruiting trail. Specifically, the number one recruit in the entire country.
The Bryce Underwood Factor
If you follow high school football, you know the name. Bryce Underwood. He’s the crown jewel. The Belleville, Michigan native has been committed to LSU for a while now. He’s got the arm, the size, and the athleticism that makes NFL scouts drool before he’s even taken a college snap.
For a long time, it felt like Michigan had lost him. The local kid was heading south to the Bayou.
But in college football, it ain’t over until the ink is dry on Signing Day.
Michigan has reportedly ramped up a massive NIL offer—we’re talking numbers that would make some NFL rookies jealous—to flip him. But money is only part of the equation for a kid like Underwood. He wants development. He wants to know he’s going to the league.
This is where the rumors start flying.
Imagine you are a top-tier quarterback recruit. You see Michigan struggling to complete forward passes in 2024. It’s hard to visualize yourself there, right? But then, you hear that Jon Gruden—a guy who has dissected quarterback play for a living—is hanging around the building.
Even if Gruden isn’t hired as the Offensive Coordinator, just his presence signals something to a recruit like Underwood. It signals that Sherrone Moore is serious about fixing the offense. It signals that NFL minds are being consulted.
There are even reports floating around—though you have to take these with a grain of salt—implying that Jon Gruden saw Michigan football practice, Bryce Underwood was the topic of conversation, and perhaps Gruden’s evaluation or potential involvement could be the closer.
Why Does Gruden Matter to a 17-Year-Old?
You might think, “Does a teenager even care about Jon Gruden?”
Maybe not in the same way a 40-year-old Raiders fan does. But Bryce Underwood’s camp? His dad? His coaches? They absolutely do.
Gruden is a quarterback whisperer. He knows what the NFL looks for. If Michigan can pitch a vision that involves an NFL-style passing attack, potentially influenced by Gruden’s concepts, that changes the pitch entirely. It goes from “Come save our struggling team” to “Come let us prepare you for Sunday.”
Read more about the Michigan recruiting push here.
The Visit: What Actually Happened?
So, what did Gruden actually do there? He wasn’t running drills. He wasn’t yelling at referees. According to those close to the program, he was observing. He spent time with the staff. He watched how they operated.
Mimi Bolden-Morris, a graduate assistant at Michigan, posted photos of Gruden in the facility. He looked comfortable. He looked involved.
This matters because Michigan is currently in a transition phase. The Jim Harbaugh era is over. The “smashmouth, run-the-ball-only” identity won a National Championship, but it’s proving difficult to sustain without a J.J. McCarthy under center.
Sherrone Moore knows he needs to evolve. Bringing in Gruden, even just as a consultant or a sounding board for a few days, shows humility. It shows he’s looking for answers. And if you are Bryce Underwood watching from down the road in Belleville, that humility might look a lot like ambition.
Is a Flip Actually Possible?
A few months ago, I would have told you “No way.” Underwood seemed locked in with LSU. Brian Kelly has a good track record with QBs, and LSU’s offense is explosive.
But the winds are shifting.
The reported NIL package from Michigan is historic. We are talking about a transformative amount of money. Combined with the “hometown hero” narrative—the idea of being the guy who leads Michigan into a new era—it’s a compelling sell.
The missing piece has always been the football fit. “Can they develop me?”
If the answer involves offensive minds like Gruden (or someone Gruden recommends), the “No” becomes a “Maybe.” And right now, “Maybe” is all Michigan needs to keep fighting.
It’s worth noting that the timeline is tight. Signing Day is approaching. Michigan has to show Underwood not just a check, but a blueprint. The sight of Gruden at practice might just be the cover page of that blueprint.
Check out the latest crystal ball predictions for Underwood.
What Happens Next?
We wait. We watch the sidelines.
Does Gruden take an official role? Probably unlikely for this season, given the baggage and the scrutiny that comes with him. But an offseason analyst role? A consultant gig? That feels very possible.
If Michigan manages to flip Bryce Underwood, we might look back at that random Tuesday practice where Jon Gruden showed up as the turning point. It was the moment the program signaled, “We are doing whatever it takes.”
Football is a game of inches, but recruiting is a game of perception. And the perception of the Wolverines just got a little more interesting.
FAQs
Did Jon Gruden officially join the Michigan coaching staff?
No, not officially. As of now, he was just visiting practice as a guest of Head Coach Sherrone Moore. He wore team gear, which sparked rumors, but no contract has been signed.
Is Bryce Underwood going to flip to Michigan?
It’s undecided, but the smoke is getting thicker. Michigan has reportedly offered a massive NIL deal, and the program is pushing hard to keep the top-ranked QB home.
Why is Jon Gruden controversial?
Gruden resigned from the Las Vegas Raiders in 2021 after leaked emails revealed offensive language. His return to any prominent coaching role would likely come with significant media scrutiny.
Does Bryce Underwood fit Michigan’s offense?
He fits any offense—he’s that good. However, Michigan’s current “run-first” style would need to evolve to maximize a talent like Underwood, which is why the Gruden rumors are so intriguing.