Bama Hammer's Ronald Evans believes Jon Gruden and Jimbo Fisher could be potential Hugh Freeze replacements if the Auburn Tigers football program takes on its third consecutive head coaching buyout in 2025.
Evans handed Freeze the dubious distinction that previous buyout receivers Bryan Harsin, Gus Malzahn, and Gene Chizik got from the Alabama Crimson Tide fanbase: desired lifetime contract holders.
He also called Gruden and Fisher "real" coaches.
"After a Freeze firing, Auburn might stumble into a real coach. Jimbo Fisher and Jon Gruden want to coach again. Jimbo might not be a big upgrade from Freeze, but Gruden could possibly turn the program around. Like it was with Gene Chizik, Gus Malzahn, and Bryan Harsin, many Alabama fans would love Auburn to give Freeze a lifetime contract," Evans wrote.
Gruden is a recovering media figure whose coaching career ended, perhaps temporarily, after emails revealed unprofessional language. Gruden got a favorable ruling against the NFL in a Nevada court on Monday regarding those emails being leaked by the league.
A return is more possible than ever. Considering the forgiveness Auburn showed Freeze after his infamous scandal at Ole Miss, seeing John Cohen extend an invite to Gruden would be a good way to get the spotlight off of what'd be a disastrous three years under Freeze.
As for Fisher, he's not a bad option at a low cost. Considering the money Texas A&M is paying him, he'd likely come at a more reasonable price.
Any of this talk hinges on AU actually pulling the trigger on firing Freeze. That only happens if his multiple top-10 recruiting classes and high-priced Transfer Portal haul fail to deliver at least seven wins.
Not impossible, but the games have yet to be played.