Fruitland High legend, former NFL Pro Bowler jumping to college coaching ranks
In 2022, Jordan Gross returned to his hometown to become the head football coach at Fruitland High School.
It was a full-circle moment.
But after four seasons with the Grizzlies, the 1998 Fruitland graduate and three-time NFL Pro Bowler is set to return to another old haunt.
Gross was recently named the offensive line coach at the University of Utah, where he played from 1999 to 2002.
“I am beyond excited to be back home at the U,” Gross said in a news release. “The opportunity to be a part of Coach (Morgan) Scalley’s staff is the chance of a lifetime and great days are ahead. I can’t wait to give everything I have to the O Line group and carry on the proud tradition of OBLOCK. Let’s roll!! Go Utes!!”
Gross played 11 seasons in the NFL from 2003 to 2013, all with the Carolina Panthers. He was selected eighth overall by the Panthers in the 2003 draft, playing in 167 games, the most of any lineman in Carolina history. He made a Super Bowl appearance as a rookie and played in nine playoff games as a Panther, tied for the third-most playoff appearances in franchise history.
The three-time Pro Bowl selection (2008, 2010 and 2013) and AP All-Pro in 2008 was inducted into Carolina’s Hall of Honor in 2019.
“Jordan Gross is not only one of the best offensive tackles to ever play the game, he is also an elite teacher and coach,” Scalley said in a news release. “Jordan has had many opportunities to coach over the past several years both at the collegiate and NFL levels, and I’m elated that our offer to come home was one he felt he couldn’t turn down.”
During his time at Utah, Gross became the program’s first Outland Trophy finalist in 2002 and also was the first Utah offensive lineman to earn consensus All-American honors. The three-time All-Mountain West selection was named to the conference’s 10th anniversary team.
In his final season at Fruitland, Gross led the Grizzlies to a perfect mark in the 4A Snake River Valley and a 10-1 overall record, including an appearance in the state semifinals. He finished with an overall record of 25-18 in four seasons.
After wrapping up his NFL career, Gross returned to his hometown with his wife, Dana, and opened Little Buddy Farm, a 70-acre farm that sells 70 varieties of vegetables and herbs directly to families across the Treasure Valley, according to River Shore Development. But Gross still found time to serve as a television and radio analyst for the Panthers and host a weekly Jordan and Jake podcast with former NFL quarterback Jake Delhomme.
Gross and his wife have three children, Boone, Rainey and Teddy.
Gross’ decision to join the Utah staff may have helped cement the signing of offensive lineman Kelvin Obot, who played under Gross at Fruitland, after the Utes’ offensive line coach, Jim Harding, left to join Kyle Whittingham’s staff at Michigan.
The 6-5, 280-pound Obot is a top 40 national recruit and a repeat two-way 4A All-Idaho selection.
This story was originally published January 6, 2026 at 1:45 PM.
