Arena Football Hall of Famer Jay Gruden has been named head coach of the National Football League’s Washington Redskins. Gruden joins Sean Payton and Marty Mornhinweg as former Arena Football League players to land head coaching jobs in the NFL.
Gruden got his coaching start thanks to LA KISS owner Brett Bouchy, who hired Jay to coach the Orlando Predators prior to the 1998 season. He compiled a 93-61 overall record in the League, including an 11-7 mark in the postseason and added two more ArenaBowl championships to his name with the Orlando Predators along the way.
Following the success of his AFL coaching career, Gruden took his talents back outdoors. He was hired as the Offensive Coordinator for the Cincinnati Bengals in 2011, guiding the team to a 9-7 season and a wildcard playoff berth in his first year with the club.
Gruden also spent eight seasons as a quarterback in the AFL, amassing 21,578 passing yards and 398 touchdowns in his career while guiding the Tampa Bay Storm to four ArenaBowl championships. He earned League MVP honors with the Storm in 1992, ArenaBowl MVP honors in 1993 and was named First Team All-Arena twice in his playing career. He was inducted into the Arena Football Hall of Fame in 1999.
The AFL Historical Committee tabbed Gruden as the 4th Greatest Player in AFL History in 2006, while the Silver Anniversary Committee selected him the 2nd Greatest Quarterback in AFL History in 2012.
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