NFL head coaches who once stared across a snowy freezing-cold northeast field at each other with contrasting emotions, have been linked in the news again.
With Super Bowl 52 just five days away, New England Patriots iconic head coach Bill Belichick had a few glowing things to say about Jon Gruden, the man who's now making his long-awaited and much-anticipated return to the NFL after spending nearly a decade away from the game while in ESPN's Monday Night Football booth, via Scott Bair of NBC Sports.
“I have a ton of respect for Jon,” Belichick said Monday night. “It’s great to have him back.”
When the question related to the changes in the game since Gruden last coached—Tampa Bay during the season of 2008—the five-time Super Bowl-winning head coach brushed it off.
“Jon’s a smart guy,” Belichick said. “I’m sure he’ll figure it out.”
Naturally, there's only one starting point when these two figures are mentioned together.
The Tuck Rule Game took place in Foxborough in 2002 (the 2001 AFC Divisional Round). With the ultra-talented Oakland Raiders up three late in the game, Charles Woodson came on the corner blitz to smack his Michigan buddy, Tom Brady.
We know what happened. On one side there was an elated Bill while the other showcased a furious Jon.
What's interesting is what's transpired since.
Brady and Belichick went on to take advantage of the unbelievable call on that snowy day in New England to the tune of five Super Bowls, the first coming that very season. Gruden went on to Tampa Bay and a Super Bowl ring himself with the Buccaneers a year later.
Now, with Belichick looking for the Vince Lombardi-tying sixth title, Gruden's back on the west coast gearing up for an epic Black Hole return.
Jon Gruden holds a career coaching record of 95-81 with a 5-4 career mark in the postseason. Bill Belichick heads into the Super Bowl with a regular season mark of 250-118 with a jaw-dropping 28 playoff wins in 38 total tries.
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