“Shockwaves in the NFL: Why Jon Gruden’s QB Camp Announcement Has Everyone Talking”

Former Super Bowl-winning coach Jon Gruden is back in the spotlight, reviving his infamous “Gruden’s QB Class” this spring with a lineup of notable NFL Draft prospects. Yet amid the buzz, something else has captured the attention of fans—this year’s roster seems strikingly monochrome. As Gruden prepares to work with quarterbacks like Ohio State’s Will Howard and Texas’ Quinn Ewers, social media lights up with commentary, pointing out the glaring absence of diversity in this year’s crop of invitees. Are we witnessing a trend or an outdated pattern? The reactions are as varied as one could imagine; from playful jabs about the “whites only” nature of the class to serious concerns about representation in a league that has seen increasing calls for change. So, what does this mean for the future of quarterback development and the NFL itself? Dive into the full story as we unpack the complexities surrounding Gruden’s coaching comeback and the implications it holds for the sport. LEARN MORE

Former Super Bowl-winning head coach Jon Gruden is back to doing his “Gruden’s QB Class” this spring and he has some big-name NFL Draft prospects meeting with him to break down film before Draft Day. But the announcement also featured a lot of fans remarking on something similar.

In his announcement of the quarterbacks attending his “Gruden’s QB Class,” the list included Ohio State’s Will Howard, Notre Dame’s Riley Leonard, Memphis’ Seth Henigan, Syracuse’s Kyle McCord, Texas’ Quinn Ewers and Ole Miss’ Jaxson Dart.

While many users expressed excitement at getting to see Gruden work with so many highly-touted potential NFL players. Users in his responses quickly remarked on one thing: They’re all white quarterbacks.

The wait is over.

Gruden’s QB Class is back. pic.twitter.com/WWkN9rjXpa

— Jon Gruden (@BarstoolGruden) April 2, 2025

“No more Rooney Rule for Jon,” one user replied.

“All these QBs have something in common but I can’t quite put me my finger on it ,,,,,,” another joked.

“Whites only is crazy,” a third wrote, adding a laughing emoji.

“Let me know when you see it,” another teased.

“It’s frying me how it’s only white QBs.”

As far as the absence of the top two quarterback prospects, Cam Ward and Shedeur Sanders, fans seem to suspect that the two simply didn’t want to attend for a variety of reasons.

“I like how Sanders and Ward probably thought this is beneath them,” one user remarked.

“Glad it’s back, but no Ward or Sanders?” wrote another, adding a thinking face emoji.

Gruden has had trouble with allegations of racism in the past. An email scandal where he allegedly wrote a number of pretty nasty things led to his ousting from the Las Vegas Raiders in 2021 and aside from a minor consulting job with the New Orleans Saints in 2023 and the European League of Football in 2024, no professional team has seen fit to give him another chance since.

But however you may feel about Gruden, there’s little denying that he knows his stuff when it comes to quarterbacks. 

He’s turned afterthoughts at the position into dominant forces during his time as a head coach and could very well do the same with one of these prospects as late-April approaches. 

Related: Jon Gruden Sounds Off On NFL Officiating During Barstool Sports Debut