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Jon Gruden makes donation to Florida high school

oROP70N2_400x400 (1)by: Aaron Dickens08/29/25AaronDickens
Jon Gruden
Former NFL Coach Jon Gruden have a laugh while attending an NFL training camp session ten at the Miller Electric Center, Tuesday, Aug. 5, 2025, in Jacksonville, Fla. (Doug Engle/Florida Times-Union / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)

Former NFL coach Jon Gruden donated boxes of new helmets to the football program at Gaither High School in Tampa, Fla. this week. Gruden shared the news, along with video of players opening the boxes, on his social media account Friday morning.

Football has given me so much that I always love to give back to the game whenever I can.

It was my privilege to donate some new Speedflex helmets to Gaither High School right here in Tampa for their upcoming season! Good luck to you all and glad you like the helmets!

Gruden has remained connected to football in the years following his 2021 resignation as coach of the the Las Vegas Raiders. He joined Barstool Sports in 2024 and appears on many of the organization’s programs. Gruden has also maintained a very active social media presence and donated money and equipment to high school programs around the country.

About Gaither

The Gaither Cowboys are 0-1 on the season after losing their opener to No. 7 Armwood last week, 38-21. The team will take on No. 34 Plant on Friday at 7:30 p.m. ET.

The team features several players that have received college recruiting interest. Wide receiver Bryan Hamilton, a consensus three-star prospect, committed to play for Pittsburgh in June over offers from Kansas State, Wake Forest and Wisconsin. Running back Elija Mason has received significant Group of Five attention, with offers in from programs such as Bowling Green, FAU, Toledo and Western Michigan. Defensive lineman Jacob Aquina and cornerback Andre Brown are also on the college recruiting radar.

Last season the Cowboys bounced back from a 1-4 start to finish 7-5. Gaither rattled off six-straight wins against Wesley Chapel, Wharton, Cypress Creek, Hillsborough and Springstead (twice) before falling to Lakeland, 41-13, in the second round of the Class 5A Region II semifinal.