Jon Gruden visits Vanderbilt football practice at ReliaQuest Bowl

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TAMPA ― Jon Gruden, the former coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Las Vegas Raiders, spoke to Vanderbilt football at its practice on Dec. 28 ahead of the ReliaQuest Bowl.

Gruden, who now works for Barstool Sports, posted a photo on X of himself with quarterback Diego Pavia and said, “Love watching this guy deal today!” The Commodores also posted a photo on X of Gruden addressing the team and a video of him shaking hands with Vanderbilt coach Clark Lea.

No. 12 Vanderbilt (10-2) plays Iowa (8-4) in the ReliaQuest Bowl on Dec. 31 (11 a.m. CT, ESPN) at Raymond James Stadium. Some Tampa-area sports figures have made appearances at the bowl. Tom Moore, a Buccaneers offensive consultant and a former longtime NFL offensive coordinator, spoke to the Hawkeyes on Dec. 27.

Gruden said on a podcast appearance in early December that Vanderbilt should have made the College Football Playoff, along with Notre Dame. The Commodores were ultimately left out and landed in the ReliaQuest Bowl. Gruden is also a frequent subject of rumors that he would take the head coaching job at Tennessee.

Gruden won the 2002 Super Bowl with the Buccaneers.

Pavia, the Heisman runner-up, will play in the bowl and has participated in practices leading up to the game.

Aria Gerson covers Vanderbilt athletics for The Tennessean. Contact her at agerson@gannett.com or on X @aria_gerson.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Jon Gruden visits Vanderbilt football bowl practice

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