Jon Gruden’s Social Media Slip Ignites Firestorm: A Married NFL Coach’s Digital Misstep

Jon Gruden’s Social Media Slip Ignites Firestorm: A Married NFL Coach’s Digital Misstep

In a digital age where every click can be a landmine, former NFL coach Jon Gruden has found himself at the center of a blazing controversy that’s threatening to unravel his carefully rebuilt public image. On April 10, 2025, the Super Bowl-winning coach, who has been married to his wife Cindy since 1985, was caught publicly “liking” a provocative Instagram post by fitness influencer and adult content creator Jolie Becker, known as “joliejuiicy.” The post, featuring Becker in tight workout clothing on a treadmill, was a far cry from the family-friendly content one might expect a married, high-profile figure to engage with. The internet erupted, and what might have been a fleeting moment of poor judgment has spiraled into a full-blown scandal, reigniting debates about Gruden’s character and his ongoing quest for redemption in the NFL.

The Blunder That Lit the Fuse
Gruden, now 61, has been out of NFL coaching since his dramatic resignation from the Las Vegas Raiders in October 2021, following the leak of emails containing racist, misogynistic, and homophobic language. Since then, he’s been working to rehabilitate his image, taking on roles like a consultant for the New Orleans Saints in 2023 and creating content for Barstool Sports in 2024. Most recently, he revealed on “The Mike Keith Show” that he’s in “serious talks” to return to the University of Tennessee as a graduate assistant under head coach Josh Heupel—a nostalgic nod to where his coaching career began in the 1980s.

But all that progress came crashing down with a single tap on his phone. Becker’s Instagram post, which showcased her treadmill workout from a revealing angle, caught Gruden’s attention—and he clicked “like.” Unfortunately for him, his Instagram activity is public, and eagle-eyed fans quickly spotted the interaction. One fan on X quipped, “Jon Gruden, my man!! Reels bops got him feeling nicey!”—a reference to a catchphrase from Gruden’s Barstool Sports show. The post by Becker, who boasts over two million followers and often shares risqué content, wasn’t the kind of thing a married man with Gruden’s history should be engaging with publicly. The internet, predictably, didn’t hold back.

A Firestorm Erupts Online
Within hours, the screenshot of Gruden’s “like” spread like wildfire across social media platforms. On X, reactions ranged from mocking to outright condemnation. “Looks like Gruden’s still got some bad decision-making in him,” one user wrote, while another added, “Cindy Gruden better have her lawyer on speed dial.” The hashtag #GrudenGate began trending, with memes and jokes piling on the embattled coach. Some fans brought up his past controversies, noting that this incident only added fuel to the narrative of Gruden as a man who can’t escape his own impulses. “First the emails, now this? Dude can’t catch a break—or maybe he just doesn’t learn,” one X post read.

The timing couldn’t be worse for Gruden. Just months ago, in February 2025, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers reinstated him into their Ring of Honor, a symbolic gesture of forgiveness for his 2021 email scandal after removing him from the honor in the wake of his resignation. Gruden had also been gaining traction as a potential candidate for NFL head coaching roles in the 2025 hiring cycle, with NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reporting in December 2024 that multiple teams were doing “extensive homework” on him. His viral TikTok videos and YouTube series, “Gruden Loves Football,” had even won over some fans with their quirky, passionate commentary—despite mixed reactions to his over-the-top style. But this latest blunder has thrown all that goodwill into jeopardy.
A Marriage Under Scrutiny

At the heart of the controversy is Gruden’s marriage to Cindy, his wife of nearly 40 years. The couple has three sons—Deuce, Jayson, and Michael—and Gruden has often spoken publicly about his family values, even using them as a defense during his 2021 scandal. “I go to church. I’ve been married for 31 years. I’ve got three great boys,” he said at the Little Rock Touchdown Club in 2022, pleading for forgiveness after his email controversy. Now, that image of a devoted family man is under siege.

Cindy Gruden isn’t on social media, so her immediate reaction remains private, but the internet has been quick to speculate. Some fans have dredged up old anecdotes, like the “Cindy Gruden audible” that Raiders quarterback Derek Carr used during games in 2021, turning it into a punchline. “Wonder if the Volunteers will be using the Cindy Gruden audible this season,” one X user snarked, referencing Gruden’s potential return to Tennessee. Others have been less charitable, with comments like, “Cindy deserves better than this clown,” reflecting a growing sentiment that Gruden’s actions have crossed a line.

The Bigger Picture: A Pattern of Poor Judgment?
This isn’t Gruden’s first brush with public humiliation, and critics are pointing to a pattern of behavior that suggests he hasn’t learned from past mistakes. In 2021, Gruden resigned from the Raiders after emails he sent between 2011 and 2018 were leaked, revealing a litany of offensive remarks. He used a racist trope to describe NFL Players Association executive director DeMaurice Smith, called NFL commissioner Roger Goodell a homophobic slur, and made misogynistic comments about women in the league. The fallout was swift: he was removed from the Buccaneers’ Ring of Honor, and his $100 million, 10-year contract with the Raiders was cut short, though he later reached a settlement with team owner Mark Davis.
Gruden has been fighting to clear his name ever since, filing a lawsuit against the NFL and Goodell, alleging they orchestrated the email leak to force him out. As of October 2024, the Nevada Supreme Court agreed to a full seven-justice review of his case, which claims the league’s actions ruined his career and endorsement deals. But while Gruden has insisted he’s “not a racist” and has sought forgiveness, his latest misstep has reignited skepticism about his character. “This guy just doesn’t get it,” wrote one commenter on Reddit. “He’s got a history of saying and doing dumb stuff, and now he’s out here liking thirst traps while his wife’s at home? Come on, man.”

The Fallout: What’s Next for Gruden?
The social media blunder has thrown Gruden’s future into uncertainty. His potential return to Tennessee, which seemed like a safe way to ease back into coaching, is now in question. Sources close to the program haven’t commented publicly, but the optics of hiring a coach embroiled in yet another scandal—especially one involving inappropriate online behavior—could be a dealbreaker for a university aiming to maintain a positive image. Gruden’s hopes of landing an NFL head coaching gig in 2025 also seem slimmer than ever. Despite interest from teams in December 2024, his ongoing lawsuit against the NFL and this new controversy make him a risky hire.
Professionally, Gruden’s Barstool Sports gig might offer some refuge, as the outlet is known for its irreverent tone and willingness to embrace controversial figures. But even there, the pressure is mounting. Some advertisers have reportedly expressed unease about being associated with Gruden’s content in light of the scandal, according to an unverified report on X.
Meanwhile, his YouTube and TikTok presence, which had been a quirky bright spot, is now being mocked as much as it’s celebrated. “Gruden feeling ‘nicey’ about more than just football now,” one viral TikTok caption read, paired with a clip of his infamous over-the-top commentary.

Personally, the toll on Gruden’s marriage could be significant. While Cindy has stood by him through past controversies, this very public indiscretion might test their relationship in new ways. Public sentiment on X leans heavily toward sympathy for Cindy, with many calling for her to take a stand. “If I were Cindy, I’d be packing my bags,” one user wrote. “This isn’t just a ‘like’—it’s a betrayal.”
A Cautionary Tale in the Digital Age
Gruden’s blunder is a stark reminder of the perils of social media for public figures. What might have been a private moment of weakness became a global spectacle because of his visibility and the internet’s unforgiving nature. For a man who’s already been under intense scrutiny, the incident underscores a lack of self-awareness that could prove to be his ultimate undoing. As one X user put it, “Jon Gruden is his own worst enemy. He’s got the talent, the resume, but he keeps shooting himself in the foot.”

The broader cultural context adds another layer. In 2025, society is more attuned than ever to issues of fidelity, accountability, and the power dynamics of public behavior. Gruden’s “like” isn’t just a personal failing—it’s a lightning rod for discussions about privilege, entitlement, and the expectations placed on men in positions of power. For someone trying to reclaim his place in the NFL, a league already grappling with its own issues of morality and optics, this incident couldn’t be more poorly timed.
Can Gruden Recover—Again?
Gruden has bounced back from scandal before, but this time feels different. His 2021 email controversy was about words written years ago; this is a fresh, self-inflicted wound that plays into a narrative of recklessness. If he hopes to salvage his career, he’ll need to address the incident head-on—likely with a public apology that acknowledges the hurt caused to his family and fans. A retreat from social media might also be in order, though that could hurt his current media ventures.

For now, the internet isn’t letting up. Memes of Gruden’s “terrifying” TikTok faces are being repurposed with captions about his Instagram faux pas, and late-night talk shows have already started cracking jokes. “Jon Gruden liked a post that got him feeling unwise-y,” quipped one comedian, to roaring laughter. The court of public opinion is in session, and Gruden is once again on trial.
As the firestorm rages, one thing is clear: Jon Gruden’s road to redemption just got a lot steeper. Whether he can weather this storm—or whether it will finally knock him out of the game for good—remains to be seen. But in an era where every move is watched, judged, and amplified, Gruden’s latest misstep might be the one he can’t come back from.