There’s no question Jon Gruden is a unique coach. He has a way about him that simultaneously comes off as fun and no nonsense. His personality would appear to be such that a player would want to play for him. He isn’t for everyone. But for those who get him, great things can happen.
Take his first stint in Oakland. That team had a collection of players who were already great and players who would eventually become great. Some were on the team already and some Gruden brought to the team.
Great players who were on the team when Gruden arrived included the likes of Tim Brown and Steve Wisniewski.