UTAH UTES

Former NFL Coach Jon Gruden Receives Gift Box From Kyle Whittingham, Utah Football

Mar 10, 2025, 1:03 PM | Updated: 1:13 pm

Jon Gruden - Las Vegas Raiders...

Head coach Jon Gruden of the Las Vegas Raiders looks on ahead of the game against the Baltimore Ravens at Allegiant Stadium on September 13, 2021 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Chris Unger/Getty Images)

(Photo by Chris Unger/Getty Images)

SALT LAKE CITY—Utah football is the latest program to send a gift package to Jon Gruden, the former NFL coach turned Barstool content creator.

Gruden received the package and shared the moment of unboxing it on Monday.

 

RELATED: Initial Projection Of Utah Football’s 2025 Starting Units

Former NFL coach Jon Gruden opens gift box from Utah Football

After wrestling with the box’s tape job, Gruden finally cracked open the box, which included some great gear. He first got to the card that Utah sent to him that said:

“Hey! Come out to a game in Salt Lake, we will take care of you! – Utah Football”

In the package, Gruden received a white Utah script hat, red Utah hoodie, wristbands, and more.

While going through the box, Gruden highlighted a handful of prominent Utah figures in the program’s history.

“This is the place that Steve Smith, the great receiver for the Carolina Panthers came from. Jordan Gross, perennial Pro Bowl left tackle,” Gruden said. “How about Alex Smith? Jamal Anderson, the Dirty Bird went to Utah. Manny Fernandez of the Miami Dolphins.”

After unboxing all the contents, Gruden put on a couple wristbands and the hat and expressed his gratitude for the program.

“Let’s go Utes, I love it,” he said. “Thank you coach Whittingham, have a great spring practice, see you soon.”

Utah football’s spring ball schedule

The Utes will open spring camp on Thursday, March 20, and the 22 Forever Game will cap spring practices on Saturday, April 19.

Utah has already gotten back to work in its offseason regimen. Whittingham and his staff will lead players through 15 practices over five weeks. Utah will split its time between the Spence and Cleone Eccles Football Center and Rice-Eccles Stadium.

Utah’s annual spring game on April 19 in Rice-Eccles Stadium will once again benefit the 22 Forever Memorial Scholarship, which honors the memories of Ty Jordan and Aaron Lowe.

Each season, the scholarship is represented by a student-athlete in the football program who exemplifies the inspiring qualities that Ty and Aaron demonstrated.

Tickets are available for purchase, and all proceeds go to the 22 Forever Memorial Scholarship.

RELATED: Utah’s Spencer Fano Named In PFF’s Top 101 Players From 2024 Season

Steve Bartle is the Utah insider for KSL Sports. He hosts The Utah Blockcast (SUBSCRIBE) and appears on KSL Sports Zone to break down the Utes. You can follow him on X for the latest Utah updates and game analysis.

Take us with you, wherever you go.

Download the new & improved KSL Sports app from Utah’s sports leader. You can stream live radio, video and stay up to date on all of your favorite teams.

Please follow our Community Guidelines
  • Utah Utes Scoreboard

  • Utah Utes Team Leaders

  • Utah Utes Standings

Utah Utes

Devon Dampier leading the Utah offense through practice this week ahead of the Holy War....

Steve Bartle

Utah football’s 1-0 mentality carries into the Holy War

Utah enters the Holy War with championship stakes and a familiar focus: go 1-0. Devon Dampier explains the mindset behind the Utes’ success.

9 hours ago

Alex Jensen and the Runnin' Utes get a 66-63 win over Long Beach State....

Steve Bartle

Instant takeaways: Utah basketball rallies from 17 down to escape Long Beach State, 66–63

Utah rallied from 17 down to beat Long Beach State 66–63. Five takeaways on Trey Campbell, defensive improvement and costly execution mistakes.

1 day ago

Corner Canyon three-star OT Moa Brown commits to Utah over USC and others....

Steve Bartle

Utah football lands Corner Canyon offensive tackle Moa Brown over USC

Corner Canyon OT Moa Brown committed to Utah joining an impressive in-state haul, choosing the Utes over USC, Arizona, BYU, and Michigan.

1 day ago

Morgan Scalley at his BYU, Holy War week press conference....

Steve Bartle

Five takeaways from Morgan Scalley’s Holy War week press conference

Morgan Scalley previews Utah vs. BYU with injury updates, praise for Devon Dampier and Bear Bachmeier, plus his message on Holy War emotions.

1 day ago

Utah basketball's Trey Campbell celebrates a basket vs Oregon....

Steve Bartle

Utah basketball to open vs. Long Beach State with lessons from three exhibitions

Utah basketball opens against Long Beach State with a veteran backcourt and lessons in rebounding and execution from three exhibition games.

2 days ago

Devon Dampier leading the Utah offense through practice this week ahead of the Holy War....

Josh Furlong

Utah moves into top 5 as BYU inches up in latest AP Top 25 rankings

With only one month left in the regular season, both BYU and Utah have all their season goals still within reach.

2 days ago

Sponsored Articles

Photos provided by families of featured athletes...

KSL Sports

Northern Utah Player of the Week – Week 7 – Carson Murphy

The John Watson Northern Utah High School Player of the Week is celebrating the best high school football player in Northern Utah.

Photos provided by family of featured athletes...

Salt Lake County High School Basketball Players of the Week – Week 13 – Stacia Peoples & Gavin Lowe

The Hercules Salt Lake County High School Player of the Week is celebrating the best high school basketball players in Salt Lake County.

...

Northern Utah High School Basketball Players of the Week – Week 13 – Rachel McBride & Lincoln Smith

The John Watson Northern Utah High School Player of the Week is celebrating the best high school basketball players in Northern Utah.

Photos provided by featured athletes...

Utah County High School Basketball Players of the Week – Week 13 – Janiece Sikander & Brody Thompson

The Mr. Mac Utah County High School Player of the Week is awarded each week to the top prep boy's and girl's basketball players in Utah County.

Photos provided by featured athletes...

Salt Lake County High School Basketball Players of the Week – Week 12 – Evy Roberts & Krew Eckman

The Hercules Salt Lake County High School Player of the Week is celebrating the best high school basketball players in Salt Lake County.

Photos provided by family of featured athletes...

Northern Utah High School Basketball Players of the Week – Week 12 – Fabiana Lopez, Madden Johnsen & Bracken Saunders

The John Watson Northern Utah High School Player of the Week is celebrating the best high school basketball players in Northern Utah.

Former NFL Coach Jon Gruden Receives Gift Box From Kyle Whittingham, Utah Football