The Bucs are reinstating Super Bowl XXXVII-winning head coach Jon Gruden into their Ring of Honor, the team announced Thursday afternoon.

Former Bucs head coach Jon Gruden – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

“Jon Gruden was initially inducted into the Buccaneers Ring of Honor based on his many accomplishments during his seven seasons as our head coach and he remains a significant figure in the history of our franchise,” the Bucs’ statement read. “Upon further reflection, we have decided to reinstate him into the Buccaneers Ring of Honor.”

Tampa Bay initially inducted Jon Gruden into the Ring of Honor inside Raymond James Stadium back in 2017. But the team went on to remove Gruden in 2021 after the former head coach had emails leaked to the public that included racist, misogynistic and homophobic language.

The emails were sent back when Gruden was a commentator on Monday Night Football, and they came to light during an NFL investigation into the Washington Football Team for workplace misconduct. The content of the emails led the Bucs to sever ties with Gruden.

“The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have advocated for purposeful change in the areas of race relations, gender equality, diversity and inclusion for many years,” the team said at the time. “While we acknowledge Jon Gruden’s contributions on the field, his actions go against our core values as an organization. Therefore, he will no longer continue to be a member of the Buccaneers Ring of Honor.”

The news that Gruden will be reinstated into the team’s Ring of Honor isn’t overly surprising, as this was set into motion last November when he attended the Bucs-49ers game at Raymond James Stadium and sat in the owners’ suite as a guest of the Glazer Family. With the relationship seemingly repaired at the time, it led many to wonder whether “Chucky” would soon find his way back into the Ring of Honor. 

And sure enough, that came to fruition on Thursday.

Jon Gruden Gets A Second Chance From The Glazer Family

Former Bucs head coach Jon Gruden – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Back in 2022, well after he resigned from his position as the Raiders’ head coach and had his name removed from the Bucs Ring of Honor, Jon Gruden spoke about the contents of the emails that were leaked to the public the year prior.

“I’m ashamed about what has come about in these e-mails, and I’ll make no excuses for it,” Gruden said then. “It’s shameful. But I am a good person. I believe that. I go to church. I’ve been married for 31 years. I’ve got three great boys. I still love football. I’ve made some mistakes. But I don’t think anybody in here hasn’t. And I just ask for forgiveness, and hopefully, I get another shot.”

It was fair to wonder whether that shot would ever come. But on a Pewter Report Podcast appearance back in October of 2023, former Bucs head coach Tony Dungy spoke about Gruden’s removal from the Ring of Honor and while he agreed with the decision for the team to do it, he said he remained hopeful that fences could be mended and the there could be some forgiveness shared.

“It was done quickly, but it wasn’t done without thought,” Dungy said at the time. “A couple of the Glazers reached out to me and kind of told me their thought process in it. The thought process was not that we’re not going to forgive, none of that. The Ring of Honor needs to be special, and there is something in there about honor. Because of that, that’s why they did it. Hopefully, those fences can be mended and Jon would feel the same kind of comfortableness coming back that I’d feel.

Former Bucs head coaches Jon Gruden and Tony Dungy – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

“I do understand why they did it and I agreed with it. I agree with you, and I came out on our show and said, ‘Okay, Jon Gruden and these e-mails were ‘X’ number of years ago.’ Shouldn’t have happened, but I’ve done things in my life that I wish I could take back. If someone admits they’re wrong and says, ‘Hey, I’m sorry,’ then we do need to forgive. We do need to move forward from it.”

The forgiveness that the Glazers are giving Gruden and the second chance they’re providing were set in motion last summer. As the story goes, it began at the celebration of life for the late great Monte Kiffin, Tampa Bay’s former defensive coordinator. Monte’s son, Ole Miss head coach Lane Kiffin, told a story that revolved around Monte’s belief in second chances.

ESPN’s Adam Schefter explained Thursday that the Glazer family was touched by the story, and as a result, the reconciliation with Gruden began.

It eventually led to the Glazers hosting Gruden at the Bucs’ game against the 49ers in November, and then came the news on Thursday. Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times shared an exclusive comment from Gruden once the news hit.

“I got a chance to get reconnected this season at a game with the Buccaneers,” Gruden said. “Some of my best memories in life were at Raymond James Stadium with the Bucs and it’s a great feeling and a great honor.”