Former head coach Jon Gruden has expressed that he is “looking forward” to the “truth” emerging regarding the allegations that the NFL and Commissioner Roger Goodell leaked damaging emails prior to his resignation from the Las Vegas Raiders in 2021. In a recent statement to ESPN, Gruden reiterated his belief that the league played a significant role in the events that led to his departure.
Less than 24 hours after the Nevada Supreme Court ruled in his favor, preventing the league from forcing Gruden’s lawsuit into closed-door arbitration, the Super Bowl-winning coach voiced his thoughts. “I’m looking forward to having the truth come out, and I want to make sure what happened to me doesn’t happen to anyone else,” Gruden stated. He emphasized the disruption caused by the NFL's actions during a critical season, noting, “We were leading the division at the time, and they completely blindsided me and the team.”
Gruden further stated, “What happened wasn’t right and I’m glad the court didn’t let the NFL cover it up.” His comments come in light of the scandal surrounding the emails that were released by the Wall Street Journal and the New York Times in October 2021. These emails revealed Gruden using racist, sexist, and anti-gay language in correspondence with then-Commanders general manager Bruce Allen during previous years before his coaching role in Las Vegas.
The emails surfaced during the NFL’s investigation into the Washington Commanders and their toxic work environment. Gruden asserts that these emails were deliberately leaked to pressure him into resigning as head coach of the Raiders, a resignation he ultimately submitted.
According to ESPN, the NFL plans to petition the Nevada Supreme Court for a rehearing regarding this case. Should this petition fail, the league is prepared to take the next step and appeal to the United States Supreme Court. The recent ruling by the Nevada Supreme Court was a close 5-2 decision, but it focused solely on the NFL's request to move the case into private arbitration, without addressing the merits of Gruden's legal claims.
As the situation develops, many are closely watching how the legal battles will unfold and what implications they may have for the league and its governance.
