Report: Jon Gruden, Bill Cowher Linked to Miami Dolphins Head Coaching Job

by Erik Frenz on Thu, Oct 27, 2011 at 12:20AM

Another week and another loss must mean another rumor is circulating about Dolphins head coach Tony Sparano's job security.

This time, Yahoo Sports' Jason Cole is reporting that Dolphins owner Stephen Ross has expressed interest in the services of Bill Cowher and Jon Gruden to be the next head coach of his football team.

The report states that both would be interested and would at least listen to offers for the job.

Ross has repeatedly said that he is sticking by Sparano, whose long-term future appears in jeopardy with the team in an 0-6 hole to start the season. The mounting pile of stories that peg Ross as speaking to various former head coaches only add to the controversy.

Just last week, reports broke from The Miami Herald that Ross was regularly speaking to former Browns head coach Eric Mangini, utilizing him as a consultant of sorts.

Cole writes that Gruden was in town for Miami's Week 1 game against the Dolphins and "told more than a few folks that he'll be ready to [coach] next offseason."

As for Cowher, Ross has already been in contact with the former Steelers coach through intermediaries, CBS Sports' Mike Freeman reports. The team issued a statement declining comment, according to the report.

This isn't the first time the Dolphins have flirted with other head coaching options with Sparano at the helm. This past offseason, the team brought then-Stanford head coach Jim Harbaugh in for an interview with Sparano still employed.

Gruden and Cowher present two very intriguing options for the Dolphins' next head coach. Gruden's record as a head coach is 95-81 (.540) and includes a Super Bowl win. And with a 149-90-1 (.623) record as a head coach, Cowher's reputation is sterling also and was enhanced with a Super Bowl XL win.

Each had just three losing seasons in their head coaching career — Cowher's lasting 18 years, Gruden's lasting 14. With three more losses, Sparano will join them with three losing seasons, only his will have come in a span of just four seasons.