Jon Gruden In, Tony Kornheiser Out on ESPN Monday Night Football

ESPN has announced that former Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Oakland Raiders head coach Jon Gruden will replace Tony Kornheiser on the network's Monday Night Football broadcasts.

The news comes as a surprise, but ESPN says that Kornheiser is leaving voluntarily and will remain on Pardon The Interruption. Kornheiser said the following through ESPN's PR department:

"I am totally grateful for the MNF opportunity that I truly enjoyed the last three seasons. I feel we got better each year. My fear of planes is legendary and sadly true. When I looked at the upcoming schedule it was the perfect storm that would've frequently moved me from the bus to the air. I kept looking at the schedule the past month and wanted to find a way to quietly extricate myself. If I could handpick a replacement of a football guy, I would cast a net and drag in Jon Gruden. He is the two things you most want -- smart and funny -- and has the two things I don't -- good hair and a tan. I love PTI and am looking forward to continuing to yammer and yodel with Wilbon until the end of time."

Gruden will join Mike Tirico and Ron Jaworski, who are remaining on Monday Night Football.

The big question now is whether this is just a one-year deal: Gruden released a statement saying he's thrilled at the opportunity to work on Monday Night Football, but everyone assumes Gruden will want to get back on the sidelines soon. So by the end of the year, Gruden may have a head-coaching job lined up, but for now, he's a broadcaster.

(Update: Gruden reportedly backed out of an NFL Network gig to take the ESPN spot)

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Buffalo Bills wide receiver Terrell Owens, right, waves to fans as he leaves the Buffalo Niagara International Airport in Cheektowaga, N.Y. on Monday, May 18, 2009. Bills Owens is filming a reality tv show for the cable network VH1. (AP Photo/Don Heupel)

Buffalo Bills wide receiver Terrell Owens, center, waves to the fans at the Buffalo Niagara International Airport in Cheektowaga, N.Y. on Monday, May 18, 2009. Bills Owens is filming a reality tv show for the cable network VH1. (AP Photo/Don Heupel)

Buffalo Bills wide receiver Terrell Owens, center, arrives at the Buffalo Niagara International Airport with fans and a VH1 production crew awaiting in Cheektowaga, N.Y. on Monday, May 18, 2009. Bills Owens is filming a reality tv show for the cable network. (AP Photo/Don Heupel)

Buffalo Bills wide receiver Terrell Owens signs an autograph as he arrives at the Buffalo Niagara International Airport in Cheektowaga, N.Y. on Monday, May 18, 2009. Bills Owens is filming a reality tv show for the cable network VH1. (AP Photo/Don Heupel)

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Pat White of West Virginia, second- round pick by the Miami Dolphins, is seen as National Football League draft pick rookies posed for NFL trading card photographers, at the Los Angeles Coliseum Saturday, May 16, 2009. (AP Photo/Reed Saxon)

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New York Jets first-round draft pick, quarterback Mark Sanchez, from Sourthern California, is photographerd by Scott Clarke for Top Deck as National Football League draft pick rookies posed for NFL trading card photographers, at the Los Angeles Coliseum, Saturday, May 16, 2009. (AP Photo/Reed Saxon)

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 4)

5-18-2009 @ 11:11AM

Adam said...

YES!

No more erroneous Favre comments. No more groan-inducing lame jokes. No more talking over the play by play so TK can make a dumb point.

MNF might actually be watchable now. Chuckie seems good on TV when I've seen him.

5-18-2009 @ 12:56PM

Dexter said...

I totally agree with you Adam!

5-18-2009 @ 11:13AM

rrr said...

Cowboys could SURE use him...

5-18-2009 @ 11:22AM

karen034 said...

LOVE JON GLAD THE IDIOT IS GONE ON MNF WORST COMMENTOR I EVER HEARD

5-18-2009 @ 1:48PM

Melissa said...

Thank goodness he's gone. He was almost as bad as Dennis Miller.

5-18-2009 @ 11:25AM

jldmfg said...

Thank Goodness, He sometimes talked out his *** I think I knew about football more then he did and I'm a woman, And thanks for hiring Gruden he is going to be nice to look at.

5-18-2009 @ 11:27AM

tigerroooo said...

Folks, all 3 of these dudes are what I call (the a_ _ hole accountants"; Tirico is such a puts, Jaworski if full of BS and Kornheiser was a twit. I frequently watch the game with the sound off. I hate to say it, but I miss Theisman & Mike Patrick. I wish they would can all 3. I do wish Gruden would work for the Cowpokes. Wade Phillips is a distinct loser, and I am afraid Romo may be one two.

5-18-2009 @ 11:31AM

Havok said...

Finally, a step in the right direction

5-18-2009 @ 11:37AM

BD said...

All I can say is, it's about time. Kornheiser is the worst third man in the booth in MNF history. He was so obnoxious that sometimes I turned off the ESPN audio to listen to the radio play by play. It's a shame that professionals like Tirico and Jaworski had to put up with him so long. Good thinking ESPN. Gruden will be a refreshing change. Thank God for change...

papam11 said...

Yeah, Gruden is in until someone offers him a head coaching job. He'd be a head coach now if the Bucs hadn't "oft" him sooner. His ego is too big to sit behind a mic. It'll either be an NFL team or a college team.

5-18-2009 @ 11:48AM

ed344mu said...

I started watching MNF with the sound off as soon as the mute button was invented. I never thought they could do worse than Dennis Miller, but they did! Gruden and Jaws ought to be fun. Gruden isn't wild about quarterbacks and Jaws usually praises them.

5-18-2009 @ 11:59AM

Karen said...

Thank God! Kornheiser was the worst ever! I couldn't stand to hear him another season.

5-18-2009 @ 12:01PM

spacificgrove said...

Miller, Limbaugh, Kornheiser.....What the f... were those idiots thinking about??....All that right wing blah, blah, blah right out of ESPN's corporate offices at ABC......I wonder if Gruden was vetted by AIPAC yet...Hmmmmmm.......

5-18-2009 @ 12:05PM

Hank said...

It's about time Kornheiser goes--he was terrible as an announcer. At least Gruden has a "legitimate" knowledge of football which should be a plus!

5-18-2009 @ 12:27PM

Quinn said...

Lets hope that NBC will now fire Kieth Olbermann, this guy just plain SUCKS!!!!

5-18-2009 @ 2:29PM

JWR said...

You don't know how literally right your are with that statement.

5-18-2009 @ 12:45PM

roy lancaster said...

Thank God. I might actually be able to watch MNF with the sound on this season.

Rich Cantwell said...

Kornheiser is the most uninformed sports analyst in all of broadcasting. Good riddance, now how do we get him off PTI? He adds nothing to any sports venue. What will Romo and Favre do without TK slurping their bath-water?