Jon Gruden: Projecting Which NFL Team He'll Coach in 2011

Jon Gruden has become one of those unemployed coaches whose name always comes up when a vacancy opens in the NFL.

Currently an employee of ESPN, Gruden's job this past spring for the network was to lavish all the quarterback prospects with huge amounts of praise while going over game film and giving them some instruction.

He's now a commentator for Monday Night Football, but with a Super Bowl ring on his finger, and still only 47 years old, there's no doubt Gruden will be back prowling the sidelines at some point.

While all 32 captain's chairs are filled at the moment, there are plenty of coaches already feeling the heat to win. A few of these coaches won't survive the season, so here are the possibilities for Gruden should he decide to return to coaching in 2011.

Cleveland Browns

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GLENDALE, AZ - DECEMBER 28: Head coach Mike Holmgren of the Seattle Seahawks walks off the field after the game with the Arizona Cardinals on December 28, 2008 at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. The Cardinals won 34-21. (Photo by St

It was speculated this past offseason that Mike Holmgren would fire Cleveland Browns head coach Eric Mangini and replace him with Gruden.

Gruden was brought into the league by Holmgren, and the two coaches are very fond of each other.

Mangini's style is almost the polar opposite of Holmgren's, but Gruden had just signed a contract extension with ESPN, and with a potential lockout looming, the Browns already paying one ex-head coach, Holmgren decided to keep Mangini, who rattled off four wins in a row to end the 2009 season.

Mangini is under a lot of pressure to win because Holmgren is in a win-win situation whether Mangini stays or not. If Mangini wins, Holmgren looks like a genius, if Mangini loses, Holmgren can go out and get his old friend, who has a Super Bowl ring, to come and coach the Browns.

To sweeten the pot, Gruden grew up a Cleveland Browns fan.

Dallas Cowboys

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HOUSTON - AUGUST 28: Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones is seen during a pre-season game at Reliant Stadium on August 28, 2010 in Houston, Texas. The Texans won 23-7. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images)

Jerry Jones hasn't won a Super Bowl since Troy Aikman was the quarterback, and even though Wade Phillips was signed to a contract extension, there are no guarantees in the NFL.

Phillips only has won one playoff game, but his quarterback, Tony Romo, has a history of choking in the playoffs.

Coaches get unfairly blamed for the mistakes of the players, and Phillips might end up as yet another victim on that pile.

Gruden's charisma might be the change-of-pace Jones would look for in the offseason.

Carolina Panthers

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CHARLOTTE, NC - AUGUST 21: Quarterback Jimmy Clausen #2 of the Carolina Panthers throws during a preseason game against the New York Jets at Bank of America Stadium on August 21, 2010 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Mary Ann Chastain/Getty Image

The Panthers have drafted Jimmy Clausen and Tony Pike. Clausen is seen as the heir apparent, but it's attitudes like that which result in the "Tony Pikes"  of the world becoming starting quarterbacks.

Head coach John Fox is in the last year of his contract and only has three winning seasons out of eight.

With a bunch of young quarterbacks to develop, no winning season in 2010 just might be the right opportunity for a guy like Gruden and his talents.

Jacksonville Jaguars

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JACKSONVILLE, FL - AUGUST 21: Head coach Jack Del Rio of the Jacksonville Jaguars watches the action during the preseason game against the Miami Dolphins at EverBank Field on August 21, 2010 in Jacksonville, Florida. (Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images

The Jaguars are a team that should have more playoff appearances, but they happen to play in the same division as Peyton Manning.

Should the Jaguars suffer the same fate this year, the front office may turn to Gruden and his offensive schemes as a way of outscoring the Indianapolis Colts.

Chicago Bears

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CHICAGO - AUGUST 21: Head coach Lovie Smith of the Chicago Bears watches as his team takes on the Oakland Raiders during a preseason game at Soldier Field on August 21, 2010 in Chicago, Illinois. The Raiders defeated the Bears 32-17. (Photo by Jonathan Da

The Bears have compiled records of 7-9, 9-7, and 7-9 since their Super Bowl appearance in 2006.

Lovie Smith is seen as a "nice guy" around Chicago, but being a nice guy doesn't always make you a good head coach.

To make matters worse, the Bears have Jay Cutler as their starting quarterback, and a giant question mark after that. If Cutler falters, or is injured, it's going to be a very long season for Bears fans, and Smith most likely would end up taking the fall after three seasons of lackluster performances.