Jon Gruden to Coach the Rams?

Jon Gruden is rumored to want to return to the NFL coaching ranks next season, despite recently agreeing to a five-year extension with ESPN for Monday Night Football.

The San Diego Union-Tribune reported on Tuesday that Gruden would like to coach in the NFL next season and could be interested in coaching either the San Diego Chargers or St. Louis Rams, depending on what happens to Chargers general manager A.J. Smith.

The Chargers are expected to fire head coach Norv Turner, which would serve as a natural landing spot for Gruden, but ultimately it could come down to whether Chargers president Dean Spanos retains Smith.

The Union-Tribune reports that the St. Louis Rams are waiting on what Spanos decides to do with Smith. If the Chargers fire Smith, as some have predicted, the Rams would hire Smith and Gruden in an apparent package deal.

Steve Spagnuolo is currently employed as the Rams' coach, but many expect the former Giants defensive coordinator to be fired after a disappointing season. The Rams will likely have either the No. 1 or No. 2 draft pick in next year's NFL draft, as well as possible trade bait with former No. 1 pick Sam Bradford.

The Rams would get the No. 1 pick - and a shot at Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck - if the Rams lose this week and the Indianapolis Colts defeat the Jacksonville Jaguars.

In addition to potential openings in San Diego and St. Louis, Gruden could also be a candidate with Miami, Jacksonville, and Kansas City -- all of which have already fired their head coaches.

Gruden most recently coached for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, but was fired in 2009 after seven years with the organization.