NFL hits back in Jon Gruden lawsuit after disgraced ex-Raiders coach scored huge win over the league
The NFL has announced its intention to appeal a Nevada Supreme Court decision which will allow former Las Vegas Raiders coach Jon Gruden to proceed with a lawsuit against the league while avoiding arbitration.
Gruden filed a suit against the NFL and commissioner Roger Goodell in 2021, alleging the league conducted a ‘malicious and orchestrated campaign’ to destroy his career when they revealed emails sent by him containing racist, misogynistic, and homophobic comments.
Gruden would inevitably resign from the Raiders in October 2021 and then promptly sued the league.
He alleged in his complaint that he was ‘forced to resign’, and he has since been open in his desires to return to the world of coaching in some capacity in the future.
Monday’s decision by the Nevada Supreme Court ensures that Gruden’s lawsuit against the league cannot be forced behind closed doors into arbitration.
In a 5-2 decision, the court sided with Gruden and found that the arbitration clause in the NFL’s rulebook is ‘unconscionable’ because it would allow Goodell to arbitrate disputes over his own conduct.
The NFL is appealing a Nevada Supreme Court ruling to bypass arbitration with a former coach
The court ruled in favor of ex-Raiders coach Jon Gruden to continue his suit against the league
‘We’re very pleased with the Nevada Supreme Court’s decision, not just for Coach Gruden but for all employees facing an employer’s unfair arbitration process,’ the ex-Raiders coach’s attorney Adam Hosmer-Henner said in a statement.
‘This victory further vindicates Coach Gruden’s reputation, and it clears the way to swiftly bringing him full justice and holding the NFL accountable.’
However, nearly one day later, the NFL has lodged and appeal and will go back to the same court – requesting a re-hearing from them.
Since his resignation, Gruden has returned to his career in media. The e-mails that led to him leaving his job were sent while he was a color commentator for ESPN from 2011-2018.
Gruden signed a multi-year contract with Barstool Sports last November – but he has also claimed he is keen to return to coaching.
According to The Detroit Free Press, on Monday, Gruden told reporters: ‘Hopefully I’m not done. I’m about to make a comeback.
‘I’m working hard to maybe get one more shot, but hopefully some of these guys that fell off my branch, if you say it that way, maybe they can hire me cause I’m looking for a job. I don’t care if I coach at Jones Junior High. I’m going to coach again.
‘I’m still coaching. I’m just not on a team officially, but I do have some private assignments I work on and I wear some gear when I’m watching the games that nobody knows about who I’m pulling for.’
Gruden resigned his position after a series of e-mails containing racist, misogynistic, and homophobic language that he sent while working at ESPN were leaked to the public in 2021
Gruden has also visited various NFL training camps over the past few weeks, including the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Jacksonville Jaguars and Detroit Lions.
Back in 2021, Gruden resigned as head coach of the Raiders after The New York Times reported that he frequently used misogynistic and homophobic language directed at Goodell and others in the NFL.
The Wall Street Journal, meanwhile, reported that Gruden used a racist term to describe NFL union chief DeMaurice Smith in a 2011 email to former Washington executive Bruce Allen.
The emails also showed him complaining about the drafting of a gay player and tolerance for those protesting racism by kneeling during the national anthem.
However, despite the controversy surrounding Gruden, the Buccaneers reinstated him to the team’s Ring of Honor back in February.
‘Jon Gruden was initially inducted into the Buccaneers Ring of Honor based on his many accomplishments during his seven seasons as head coach and he remains a significant figure in the history of our franchise,’ the team said.
Gruden claims NFL commissioner Roger Goodell forced him to resign from the Raiders
‘Upon further reflection, we have decided to reinstate him into the Buccaneers Ring of Honor.’
NFL commissioner Goodell and former Washington Commanders owner Dan Snyder had been accused of leaking Gruden’s racist, homophobic emails that led to his dismissal as Raiders head coach in 2021.
NBC’s Peter King, a veteran NFL reporter, previously wrote that ‘several smart people in the league think the leaks come from the Snyder camp’ and that reporting had been matched by the Washington Post.
