The NFL has uncovered even more emails involving Raiders coach Jon Gruden from 2010 to 2018 in which he used sexist, homophobic and transphobic language, according to a New York Times report.
Shortly after the Times published its report, NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero and ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that Gruden had informed his team that he would resign as head coach. Gruden then released a statement confirming his resignation:
statement from jon gruden: “i have resigned as head coach of the las vegas raiders. I love raiders and I don’t want to be a distraction. thank you to all the players, coaches, staff and fans of raider nations. I’m sorry, I never meant to hurt anyone.”
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League officials discovered the emails as part of a workplace misconduct investigation of former Washington football team president Bruce Allen. They didn’t specifically focus on Gruden, who wasn’t in the league at the time. He had previously been criticized for using an apparently racist trope against NFL Players Association CEO Demaurice Smith in a 2011 email to Allen. Gruden at the time was working as a color analyst on “Monday Night Football.”
Gruden later attempted to retract those comments, saying that he uses the term rubber lips to call someone a liar. He apologized for those comments on Sunday, before leaking more derogatory emails in less than 24 hours.
here’s everything you need to know about what gruden said in those emails and how the assailants, the nfl and the nflpa responded:
what did jon gruden say in the emails?
Gruden used racist, sexist, homophobic and transophobic language in the emails, which the Times says date from 2010 to 2018, before Gruden was hired by the assailants for his second stint with the team. Depending on the time, he often called NFL commissioner Roger Goodell an “f-t” and a “clueless anti-football p-y.” He also used homophobic slurs to describe NFL owners, coaches, and reporters who cover the league.
Gruden also reportedly exchanged emails with Allen and others that included photos of women wearing only bikini bottoms. One photo reportedly included two cheerleaders from the Washington football team. Depending on the time, Gruden and Allen also sometimes included Ed Droste, the co-founder of Hooters; Jim McVay, an executive who has run the Outback Bowl; and nick reader, the founder of pdq restaurants, in the emails.
According to the time, Droste in 2017 shared a sexist meme of a woman umpiring in the NFL, with Gruden replying, “good job, roger.”
gruden also criticized larger issues that came up or had discussion platforms in the league. For example, he reportedly criticized former President Barack Obama during his 2012 re-election campaign and called then-Vice President Joe Biden a “nervous, clueless fagot.” Gruden also reportedly called out the league for trying to reduce concussions, adding that Eric Reid, who rallied during the playing of the national anthem as a form of protest against police brutality, should be fired.
More: Raiders coach Jon Gruden admits he insulted Roger Goodell in 2011 emails
In 2015, Gruden condemned a congressional bill that attempted to force Washington to change its name from Redskins, which many Native Americans see as an insult. Gruden received a link, also that year, detailing how players wanted Goodell to support them in efforts to promote racial equality and criminal justice reform.
“You need to hide in your concussion protocol tent,” Gruden said.
gruden also singled out people as targets of his hateful language. That includes Caitlyn Jenner, who Gruden mocked when she won an award in 2015 after transitioning. He also asked Allen to tell Bryan Glazer, whose family owns the Buccaneers, to perform oral sex on him. Allen reportedly replied that Glaser “would take that offer.” Gruden coached Tampa Bay from 2002 to 2008.
Gruden also targeted Michael Sam, who came out as gay before attempting an NFL career, and Smith.
miguel sam
According to the time, Gruden criticized Goodell for putting pressure on the former St. louis rams trains jeff fisher to write “q—rs”. That was a reference to Sam, who came out as gay before the 2014 NFL Draft and was selected with the Rams’ second-to-last pick in the seventh round. he spent the 2014 season at st. the louis and dallas practice squads, and then spent time in the cfl with the montreal alouettes.
Before his resignation, Gruden coached the NFL’s first openly gay active player, Carl Nassib, who came out before the 2021 season.
demaurice smith
The email Gruden initially received in hot water was a 2011 email to Allen in which he used a racist trope to describe Smith:
“dumboriss smith has lips the size of michellin tires (sic)”.
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jon gruden’s comments after email leak
Gruden, perhaps trying to soften comments he threw at Smith, told espn on Friday that the nflpa executive director wasn’t the only person he insulted in 2011 during labor disputes that led to to a lockout: said goodell also insulted:
“I was in a bad mood at the time (in 2011), and I also called roger goodell (expletive) in one of these emails,” he told espn. “They were stopping players and coaches from doing what they love with a lockout. A lot of things were also publicly reported about the safety of the sport I love. I was on a mission with high school football (in Tampa, Fla., area) during that time, and there were a lot of parents who were scared to let their kids play soccer. It just didn’t sit well with me.”
Gruden, speaking separately to the athlete, said he didn’t remember the details of the email to allen, and that he uses the term “rubber lips” to describe someone as a liar (a possible explanation for his comment about the smith’s lip size). he added that he is not a racist but that his comments went too far and that he would take responsibility for them.
of the athletic:
“I know this, at that point in my life, 11 years ago or 10 years ago, I’m sure I vented a little bit with my friends about certain things,” Gruden told Atletico on Friday after the email became public.
I know that at that time the collective bargaining agreement was changing, there was a lockout or threatened lockout, if I remember correctly. I probably looked at (smith) as the villain. and I was really upset. I was really upset that there was going to be a lockout. I felt that gene upshaw would never have let that happen.
I didn’t feel like we were getting the truth. I mean guys when I see them lying, and I can tell they’re lying, I refer to them as ‘rubber lips’. I went too far calling it the michelin lips. I never had a shred of racism in me. I was angry and used a terrible way to insult a boy.
I called (smith) and contacted him and haven’t heard from him yet, but I’ll keep trying.”
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what raiders, nfl have said in response to gruden emails
assailants
“the content of an email about demaurice smith from jon gruden when he worked for espn 10 years ago is disturbing and not what the assailants represent. we were first made aware of the email last night by a reporter and lo We’re reviewing — along with other materials provided to us by the NFL today, we’re addressing the matter with Coach Gruden and will have no further comment at this time.” (via twitter)
nfl
“jon gruden’s email denigrating demaurice smith is appalling, abhorrent, and totally contrary to nfl values. we condemn the statement and regret any harm its publication may cause mr. smith or anyone else.” (via the wall street journal)
demaurice smith
“jon gruden’s email, and some of the reaction to it, confirms that the fight against racism, racist tropes and bigotry is not over. it’s not so much an email as a widely held belief from some that people who look like me can be treated as less. the email has also revealed why the comments of some with powerful platforms to explain this are insidious and hypocritical. it is as if there is a need to protect football by above the values of equality, inclusion and respect.
“The powerful in our business must accept that football itself has to be better, instead of making excuses to maintain the status quo.”
“i appreciate (gruden) reaching out to me (and) i told him we’ll be connecting soon, but make no mistake, the news isn’t about what’s being said in our private chat, it’s about what’s being said over people who never thought they would be exposed and how they will be held accountable. (via twitter)