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The last name Gruden carries significant weight in the NFL Fraternity, primarily because of Jon Gruden‘s legendary coaching resume and media prominence. Now, the attention has shifted away from the controversial coach and onto something far more compelling: his sons. One of them just made headlines in a way that blends the athletic world of football with elite-level powerlifting excellence.

Terrell Owens holding Dude Wipes XL

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Who Are HC Jon Gruden’s Sons?

Jon Gruden and his wife, Cindy Gruden, have three sons. The firstborn is named Jon David Gruden II. The middle son is Michael Gruden, and the Youngest Son is Jayson Gruden.

Who Is Deuce Gruden? Jon Gruden’s Son

Deuce Gruden is currently working as a strength and conditioning assistant coach for the Las Vegas Raiders. The 2025 season is his tenth year working in the NFL and his eighth consecutive year with the Silver and Black. In August 2025, Deuce became viral on social media when fans spotted his unbelievably muscular body standing on the sidelines of the Raiders at a game. The internet reaction was divided. Some fans were totally in awe at his physique, while others made light-hearted comments about his height, which is 5’6″.

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Deuce Gruden’s Early Life and Family Background

Jon David Gruden II was born in Tampa, Florida, on January 19, 1994. His family has a long history in American football, including his father, Uncle Jay Gruden, and his grandfather, Jim Gruden, who was a long-time coach and scout. He studied at Carrollwood Day School in Tampa. Despite his family background in football, Deuce developed a strong passion for physical fitness and strength training from an early age due to his mother’s influence. He pursued this interest while attending Lafayette College.

Deuce Gruden’s Powerlifting Career and Athletic Journey

Deuce Gruden’s love for weight training transformed into competitive powerlifting, and he made a national bench press record on Saturday and became a record breaker. He lifted 483 pounds on his 3rd attempt, creating a new Powerlifting America National Record in the weight class. This is not his first milestone. In June 2017 at Belarus The son of HC Jon Gruden won a gold medal in the junior 83 kg weight category at the IPF World Classic Powerlifting Championships.

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“Once I discovered power lifting it was like, game over.” Deuce said on Fox 13, ” I have something to compete in after football.”

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Jon Gruden’s Reaction to His Son Deuce’s Historic Lift

The former football coach, with great pride, announced his son’s wonderful achievement. He posted a clip of Deuce on his X and showcased his strength to the whole world.

“My son Deuce broke the powerlifting record last night for his weight class in Las Vegas!” Jon Gruden Wrote on X, “483-pound bench press!”

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This celebration is just the tip of their father-son bond. There is a lot of depth to this.

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How Deuce Gruden’s Relationship With His Father

Their relationship is not limited to blood relation only. Jon Gruden is the person who introduced Deuce Gruden to serious training and mentored him from an early age. Deuce learnt core techniques like squatting at the Tampa Bay Buccaneers facility. He initially broke into the NFL under his uncle Jay Gruden in Washington before joining his father’s Las Vegas Raiders staff in 2018, but His father’s mentorship bridged technical football knowledge with a passion for strength, ultimately helping him establish credibility as an elite NFL strength coach.

The strong son of HC Gruden has proved himself and done something unique. It’s definitely tough to break the shell of your family, but Deuce Gruden did it perfectly.

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Written by

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Shivam Sinha

161 Articles

Shivam Sinha is an NFL writer at EssentiallySports, specializing in roster construction, player evaluation, and long-term team building across the league. His coverage focuses on how front offices make decisions, how careers are shaped, and why certain moves define a franchise’s direction. Previously, he covered NFL legends, developing a strong research-driven approach that helps connect past greatness with present-day strategy. That foundation allows him to place current performances, trades, and contracts into meaningful historical and competitive context. From analyzing draft prospects and game-changing trades to tracking how teams evolve over a season, Shivam delivers structured, fact-focused NFL coverage for readers who want to understand the game beyond weekly results.

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Edited by

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Antra Koul

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