Jon Gruden has officially brought back a pre-draft staple from his ESPN days. Last month, he hinted at reviving the concept that became closely associated with his time at the network, and now, it’s a reality.
Since his controversial exit from the NFL due to leaked emails containing racist and offensive language, Gruden has been working to rebuild his reputation, recently aligning himself with Dave Portnoy and Barstool Sports. His return to the sports media landscape coincides with his reinstatement into the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Ring of Honor, marking a significant moment in his public-image resurgence. With this comeback comes a familiar playbook; Gruden has fully revived QB Camp at Barstool Sports, now rebranded as Gruden’s QB Class.
With creative freedom under Portnoy, it’s too early to declare that his latest media venture is “losing its luster.”
The wait is over.
Gruden’s QB Class is back. pic.twitter.com/WWkN9rjXpa
— Jon Gruden (@BarstoolGruden) April 2, 2025
Gruden’s QB Camp was a must-watch for nine seasons on ESPN, integral to the pre-draft process before disappearing along with its host in 2018. Now, it’s back, with the first episode featuring Ohio State’s Will Howard set to drop on April 7.
The remaining schedule includes Notre Dame’s Riley Leonard on April 9, Memphis’ Seth Henigan on April 14, Syracuse’s Kyle McCord on April 16, Texas’ Quinn Ewers on April 21, and Ole Miss’ Jaxson Dart on April 23. It’s worth noting, as many have pointed out in replies, that Shedeur Sanders and Cam Ward are notably absent. Gruden mentioned he was “trying to get all the top guys,” but missed out on the top two prospects in the draft. Some quarterbacks may not be eager to align themselves with Barstool; just ask Patrick Mahomes.
Regardless, QB Class will have its work cut out to match its former success.
