Cardinals Bringing in Good Luck Charm Jon Gruden For Critical Cubs Series
Cardinals Bringing in Good Luck Charm Jon Gruden For Critical Cubs Series originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
Fresh off an unexpected surge in local popularity during the St. Louis Blues' recent playoff run, Jon Gruden is set to throw out the ceremonial first pitch at Wednesday's Cardinals-Cubs showdown at Busch Stadium.
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Gruden — a longtime NFL coach and fiery football personality who's kept his trademark intensity long after leaving the sidelines — now works as a sports personality for Barstool Sports. Gruden frequently gets sent large packages filled with gear and memorabilia from college and pro teams, which he unboxes on camera with his signature enthusiasm. His videos often include energetic shoutouts, nostalgic nods to team legends, and heartfelt appreciation for the gifts.
Buccaneers head coach Jon Gruden holds up the Vince Lombardi Trophy after winning Super Bowl XXXVIII against the Oakland Raiders© ROBERT HANASHIRO / USA TODAY NETWORK
Before the Blues' crucial Game 3 showdown against the Winnipeg Jets — trailing 0-2 in the series — Gruden appeared in a video on social media platform X, unboxing a package of team gear and delivering a jolt of energy. The clip quickly went viral, and Gruden leaned fully into his newfound bond with the Blues.
Although the Blues were not able to pull away the series victory, losing the series 4-3 in shocking fashion, Gruden's love for St. Louis teams didn't slow down.
On Wednesday, Gruden will be back in the city for a rivalry matchup between the St. Louis Cardinals (42-36) and the Chicago Cubs. The teams sit 3.5 games apart in the division with the Cubs holding a lead in the NL Central. The Cardinals sit one game behind the Milwaukee Brewers and will look to cut the Cubs lead by winning their four-game series.
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The Cardinals exploded in Game 1 of the series on Monday, knocking four two-run homers en route to an 8-2 victory in St. Louis. Lars Nootbar hit his second home run in four games after going 16 games without one, and Willson Contreras went 3-for-4 in the batter's box to continue his hot start to the season.
If Gruden's recent track record as a hype man is any indication, the Cardinals are hoping his presence at Busch Stadium can help spark another electric performance — and maybe even a little more magic in their push up the standings.
Related: Cardinals' Brendan Donovan Falls in Latest NL All-Star Balloting
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 24, 2025, where it first appeared.
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