Topline
Multiple news outlets reported Monday that Jon Gruden has resigned as the coach of the Las Vegas Raiders. He was seen in a series of emails dating back years, expressing homophobic views, making sexist comments and exchanging banter about an appearance by officials from the NFL players union.
Jon Gruden, the head coach of the Las Vegas Raiders, watches as the second half of a Las Vegas Raiders game against the... [+] Buffalo Bills takes place on October 4, 2020 in Las Vegas. Getty Images
The Key Facts
ESPN, NFL Network and the Associated Press reported Gruden's departure from Raiders. Forbes did not reply to a request for comment. Gruden was a ESPN commentator and called Goodell an anti-football pussy. Gruden also called Bruce Allen a faggot when he was a Washington Football Team president. The New York Times reported Monday. Gruden also suggested Eric Reid, safety for the Rams, lose his job because he kneeled during the National Anthem. Goodell was also accused of pushing the Rams to draft openly gay Michael Sam in 2014. The Rams were the first active NFL team to do so. Gruden was emailed by another person who sent him a meme that depicted a female referee using sexist language. He responded, "Nice job roger," the Times reported. Forbes was confirmed by a league source.
Tangent
The Wall Street Journal reported that Gruden was first criticized last week for using a racist cartoon to describe DeMaurice Smith, head of the NFL Players Association, in an email from 2011. Gruden claimed Smith, whom he called Dumborris [sic], has lips the size michellin tires.
Surprising Fact
Gruden admitted to ESPN that he used an expletive in an email to describe Goodell on Friday. He claimed that he was frustrated by the NFL lockout, mounting concerns about football's safety, and was angry at Gruden.
Important Background
Gruden has been the Raiders' head coach since 2018. This follows a stint as Raiders' head coach in late 1990s. It also includes several years as Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach in 2000 and some years as an ESPN analyst. According to the Times and Journal, the emails between Gruden and Allen were discovered during an investigation by the NFL into harassment and misconduct at Washington Football Team.
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Emails from Raiders Coaches Included Homophobic And Misogynistic Comments. (New York Times).
