- Today
- Holidays
- Birthdays
- Reminders
- Cities
- Atlanta
- Austin
- Baltimore
- Berwyn
- Beverly Hills
- Birmingham
- Boston
- Brooklyn
- Buffalo
- Charlotte
- Chicago
- Cincinnati
- Cleveland
- Columbus
- Dallas
- Denver
- Detroit
- Fort Worth
- Houston
- Indianapolis
- Knoxville
- Las Vegas
- Los Angeles
- Louisville
- Madison
- Memphis
- Miami
- Milwaukee
- Minneapolis
- Nashville
- New Orleans
- New York
- Omaha
- Orlando
- Philadelphia
- Phoenix
- Pittsburgh
- Portland
- Raleigh
- Richmond
- Rutherford
- Sacramento
- Salt Lake City
- San Antonio
- San Diego
- San Francisco
- San Jose
- Seattle
- Tampa
- Tucson
- Washington
Alabama QB Ty Simpson Gets Strong Advice From Super Bowl Champion HC Jon Gruden
Gruden urged Simpson to improve his snap count and 'be an actor' like Tom Cruise ahead of the 2026 NFL Draft.
Apr. 14, 2026 at 6:55pm
Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›
Gruden's advice to Simpson underscores the need for quarterbacks to master the mental aspects of the game, not just physical talent.Tuscaloosa TodayTy Simpson, the University of Alabama quarterback, recently headlined Jon Gruden's annual 'Gruden's QB Class' segment, where the legendary coach offered praise for Simpson's passing accuracy and leadership skills. However, Gruden also provided constructive criticism, advising Simpson to improve his snap count and 'be an actor' like Tom Cruise to fool defenses, rather than just relying on a clap to get the defense to jump offsides.
Why it matters
As one of the top quarterback prospects in the 2026 NFL Draft, Simpson's performance and development are closely watched by NFL teams. Gruden's advice highlights areas Simpson needs to work on to be successful at the next level, where defenses will be more disciplined and experienced.
The details
During the segment, Gruden praised Simpson's passing accuracy and leadership skills, which have helped position him as one of the most promising talents in this year's draft. However, Gruden also found that Simpson needs improvement in his snap count, as the former Alabama quarterback was just used to faking a clap to fool defenses. Gruden advised Simpson to 'be an actor' and 'be like Tom Cruise' in order to effectively manage the snap count and not get 'Myles Garrett with a clap'.
- Earlier this week, Ty Simpson headlined Jon Gruden's annual 'Gruden's QB Class' segment.
- Simpson ranked 25th among college football quarterbacks last year with an impact score of 85.4, according to PFSN's CFB QB Impact Metric.
The players
Ty Simpson
The University of Alabama quarterback who is expected to be one of the top quarterback prospects in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Jon Gruden
The legendary NFL coach who hosted the 'Gruden's QB Class' segment and provided advice to Ty Simpson.
What they’re saying
“'If you really want to be like Aaron Rodgers, you gotta be an actor, you gotta be like Tom Cruise. You can't go get freaking Myles Garrett with a clap.'”
— Jon Gruden, NFL Coach
What’s next
With the 2026 NFL Draft approaching, anticipation is building to find out which team Simpson will join in the upcoming NFL season. Among the top contenders are the Arizona Cardinals and the New York Jets.
The takeaway
Gruden's advice to Simpson highlights the importance of developing advanced quarterback skills beyond just physical talent. As Simpson prepares for the NFL, he will need to focus on improving his snap count and acting abilities to effectively manage defenses, in addition to his already strong passing accuracy and leadership.
