Orlando Turns to Gruden to Lead Predators
Published on July 14, 2003 under Arena Football League (AFL)
Orlando Predators News Release
ORLANDO, Fla. (July 14) -- As expected, the Orlando Predators turned to a known commodity when it came time to name a new head coach. On Monday, the Arena Football League team said that former head coach-turned quarterback Jay Gruden would once again patrol the sidelines.
Gruden will replace Fran Papasedero, who was tragically killed in a traffic accident on July 19. Papasedero took over the Predators reigns in 2002, when Gruden decided to return to the playing field. In two seasons as head coach, Papasedero went 22-13 and guided the Predators into the semifinals in each of his two seasons.
In making the announcement, Predators President Brett Bouchy did not rule out the possibility of Gruden playing again next season. An AFL rule currently prevents an athlete from being a player/coach, but Orlando may seek an exemption. "Basically, we're asking the league to allow us to keep our options open," Bouchy said. "Jay's original intention was to play next year but that was before Fran's accident and his surgery. If he recovers enough from the surgery and still wants to play, we want to give him that option as either a player/coach or just a player. But for now, Jay is our head coach and will handle those duties."
The Arena Football League has already granted an exemption that will allow Jay to switch from the head coaching role to quarterback without sitting out the mandatory one-year period. The Predators were also given the option of asking the league to change its rules to allow for a person to be both a player and the head coach.
One of the most successful quarterbacks in Arena Football League history, Gruden led the Tampa Bay Storm to four championships in six seasons from 1991-96. He stepped away from the game after winning back-to-back titles to become offensive coordinator of the Nashville Kats in 1997. After helping that team to a then-expansion record 10 wins, Gruden was named Head Coach and Director of Football Operations of the Orlando Predators.
In his first season, Gruden went 9-5 before guiding the Predators to three consecutive wins in the playoffs as Orlando won their first ArenaBowl championship. The season culminated with a shocking 62-31 road win over 17-point favorite Tampa Bay in ArenaBowl XII.
In 1999, the Predators made AFL history by becoming the first number eight seed to make it to a championship game. An injury-plagued Orlando team limped into the playoffs, needing a victory in Week 14 to sneak into the post-season with a 7-7 record. From there, Gruden led the Predators to unlikely road upsets over #1 seeded Tampa Bay (41-9) and #2 seeded Iowa (48-40), before falling to #3 Albany in ArenaBowl XIII.
Gruden's third season saw the Predators race out to a 7-0 record and finish at 11-3. From there, Orlando swept three straight playoff games and won a second ArenaBowl title with a 34-31 win over Nashville in the championship game.
Orlando went 8-6 during Gruden's fourth season with the Predators. But following a disappointing 46-21 loss to Chicago in the playoffs, where starting quarterback Craig Whelihan blew out his knee, Gruden surprised league insiders by resigning as head coach and announcing his intention to return to the playing field. He would sign a two-year contract to play for Orlando.
With Gruden at quarterback, the Predators got off to a 1-4 start before winning six of their last nine. Orlando would record two playoff wins, including a road upset of fourth seeded New Jersey, before falling to eventual league champion San Jose in the semifinals. This past season, Gruden directed the Predators to a 4-0 record, before severely injuring his ankle against Carolina on Feb. 21.
Orlando would lose four of the next six with Gruden out of the line-up. When Jay returned on Apr. 11, the Predators went 6-0 to finish the season and secure a top four seeding for the playoffs. Gruden completed 183 of 295 passes (62%) for 2,334 yards, 49 touchdowns and just two interceptions in recording a 10-0 mark as a starting quarterback during the 2004 regular season. Gruden led the Predators to a quarterfinal win over New York, before the team bowed out to eventual league champion Tampa Bay in the semifinals.
As a Head Coach, Gruden's four-year totals as Orlando's head coach include a 43-23-0 (.651) record, two championships, and three championship appearances. He was 10-5-0 as an offensive coordinator at Nashville and 85-26-0 (.766) as a starting quarterback in the AFL with four more titles.
"This is not how I envisioned coming back as a head coach," Gruden said. "Fran was doing a great job and came extremely close to winning titles in each of the last two seasons. Hopefully I will be able to come in and build on what he has already put in place."
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