10 Interesting Facts About Washington Redskins Head Coach Jay Gruden

Jay Gruden is the Head Coach for the Washington Redskins. Here are 10 interesting facts about him.

Jay Gruden who was born on March 4, 1967 in Tiffin, Ohio. He is the Head Coach for the Washington Redskins and been in the NFL off and on as a coach since 2002. He is the younger brother of defensive guru and ex-NFL coach Jon Gruden. Jay Gruden was once called the “Michael Jordan of Arena Football.”

10 interesting facts about Washington Redskins Head Coach Jay Gruden

Facts #1:

Jay Gruden played QB for Louisville from 1985-1988. He is in the top 5 of all QBs ever playing there.  Jay finished his career a Louisville passing for 7,024 yards, a 54.5% completion rate, and 44 TDs.

Facts #2:

Jay Gruden led Louisville to a 8-3 winning record in 1988, the first for the Louisville Cardinals in 10 years.

Facts #3:

Jay Gruden never got drafted, but did play on some practice teams for the NFL and the CFL. He took his game to the World League and played two years for the Barcelona Dragons and the Scotland Claymores.

Facts #4:

Jay Gruden found fame and success in the Arena Football League. He led the Tampa Bay Storm to four ArenaBowl Championships and was named the league's MVP in 1992. Jay finished his career playing for the Orlando Predators and retired after the 2003 season. Jay is a member of the Arena Football Hall of Fame.

Facts #5:

Jay Gruden finished his professional football days as a player earning many honors and awards during and after his retirement: League MVP & First Team All-Arena-QB in1992, All-Star Game MVP in 1993, First Team All-Arena-QB (TB) in 1995, AFL's 10th Anniversary Team in 1996, AFL Hall of Fame & All-ArenaBowl Team-QB in 1999, Second Team 15th Team anniversary-QB in 2001, and ranked fourth on the AFL's list of greatest players in 2006.

Facts #6:

Jay Gruden has been coaching in the Arena Football league and the National Football League since retiring as a player. He started with the Nashville Kats in 1997 in the AFL as the offensive coordinator. In 1998 he was hired to be the Head Coach of his former team, the Orlando Predators which he coached for four seasons winning AFL titles in 1998 and 2000. Gruden finished his AFL coaching career with a 93-61 regular game record and 11-7 in the playoffs.

Facts #7:

Jay Gruden in 2011 made the jump to the NFL with a giant chip on his shoulder because he always felt he had .the skills and determination to be an NFL QB. Being hired by Marv Lewis and the Cincinnati Bengals as the Offensive Coordinator would give him his chance to prove everyone wrong. Not feeling ready ye to become a head coach, Jay Gruden signs an extension with the Bengals turning down head coaching job offers from the Jacksonville Jaguars, St. Louis Rams and the Indianapolis Colts.

Facts #8:

Jay Gruden since becoming the Offensive Coordinator for the Cincinnati Bengals brought them to the playoffs all three years he has been coaching there. In the 20 years prior o his arrival, the Bengals only made the playoffs twice. The Bengal's record is 30-18 since his arrival.

Facts #9:

Jay Gruden comes from a football family. His father was a college and NFL assistant coach. His brother, Jon was the head coach of the Oakland Raiders and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and now works as an analyst for Monday Night Football and as a program called Jon Gruden's Quarterback Camp.

Facts #10:

Jay Gruden was hired by Dan Snyder and the Washington Redskins on January 9, 2014 to become their Head Coach. Jay finally has arrived.

Sources: Arena Football, Bengals Teamsite, Washington Post, Washington Redskins, Pro Football Talk