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Jon Gruden receives high school football gear from Robbie Gould

Lawrence Andrew Fernandezby:Lawrence Fernandez•04/21/25•

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Jon Gruden
Sep 19, 2021; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Las Vegas Raiders head coach Jon Gruden takes the field before the game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Heinz Field. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

Jon Gruden continues to impart his football knowledge through the Fired Football Coaches Association and his platform at Barstool Sports. His thorough dissection of games, including Super Bowl LIX, earned him a steady following online.

Likewise, his passion and intelligence for the game earned him respect from his peers, including football players. That’s why he showed off the NFL helmets he collected over the years in his recent post on X/Twitter.

However, from his 47-helmet collection, Jon Gruden singled out the one gifted by former NFL placekicker Robbie Gould when the former was still part of the Monday Night Football broadcast crew. In addition to believing in Gould’s kicking prowess, it’s the only helmet from a kicker that Gruden has.

In return, Gould reciprocated Gruden’s expression of admiration by hooking up with the Super Bowl-winning coach in Chicago. It was not just an ordinary meetup because Gould gifted Gruden with apparel and equipment from his current job.

Before revealing the gifts, Robbie Gould mentioned that he has Jon Gruden’s autograph on a Tampa Bay Buccaneers helmet. Then, Gruden opened the box containing the helmet of Illinois’ Saint Viator High School. Gould accepted the role of becoming the school’s head football coach starting this year, and he had his players sign the helmet. Saint Viator could use Gould’s football knowledge after going 4-5 last season.

Before joining the Lions, Gould was the head coach at Rolling Meadows High School for one year. Imparting his football knowledge to young football players in Illinois is his way of giving back to the state that welcomed him early in his NFL career. The Chicago Bears signed him after he went undrafted in 2005, and he stayed there for 11 seasons. The former Penn State standout earned his lone All-Pro and Pro Bowl selections while playing for the Bears.

Meanwhile, Jon Gruden excitedly showed the Saint Viator caps, jackets, and shirts he received from the kicker who played 18 NFL seasons. As the former Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Oakland/Las Vegas Raiders coach said, he will put the helmet beside Gould’s.