Report: Former Raiders' coach Jon Gruden suing NFL, Rodger Goodell

Jon Gruden is suing the NFL and commissioner Rodger Goodell , according to a report that was published on Friday afternoon.

“Through a malicious and orchestrated campaign, the NFL and Commissioner Roger Goodell sought to destroy the career and reputation of Jon Gruden, the former head coach of the Las Vegas Raiders,” the lawsuit stated.

While there was limited information released in the initial report, the lawsuit states the NFL took countless steps to ensure Gruden was ousted.

On Friday, Adam Hosmer-Henner, the attorney representing Gruden at McDonald Carano, issued a statement.

“Jon Gruden has filed suit against the National Football League and Comissioner Goodell in the Eighth Judicial Court in Clark County, Nevada. The complaint alledges that the defendants selectively leaked Gruden’s private correspondence to the Wall Street Journal and New York Times in order to harm Gruden’s reputation and force him out of his job. There is no explanation or justification for why Gruden’s mails were the only ones made public out of the 650,000 emails collected in the NFL’s investigation of the Washington Football Team or why the emails were held for months before being released in the middle of the Raiders’ season.”

Jon Gruden resignation from Las Vegas Raiders

On October 12, the NFL world learned the surprising news that Gruden was submitting his resignation.

The resignation came after uncovered emails showed the Raiders head coach used racist, misogynistic and homophobic language.

Gruden issued a statement along with his resignation.

“I have resigned as head coach of the Las Vegas Raiders,” Gruden stated. “I love the Raiders and do not want to be a distraction. Thank you to all the players, coaches, staff, and fans of Raider Nation. I’m sorry, I never meant to hurt anyone.”

Gruden’s resignation came after uncovered emails showed the Raiders head coach used racist, misogynistic and homophobic language.

The New York Times detailed in a report that Jon Gruden made more offensive comments than those initially revealed in his emails, including the use of homophobic slurs. Gruden was the subject of criticism since an email he sent in 2011 was revealed in which he used a racially charged remark when discussing DeMaurice Smith of the NFLPA.

“Dumboriss Smith has lips the size of Michelin tires,” Gruden wrote in the email that has since launched an investigation, per Andrew Beaton of The Wall Street Journal.

Jon Gruden resigned midway through his fourth season as the head coach of the Las Vegas Raiders. In 2018 he signed a record 10-year $100 million contract to take over the position from Jack Del Rio. The two-time Raiders coach also has a no-trade clause built into the contract. In his second stint with the Raiders, Gruden finishes 22-31 and never his team to the playoffs in three seasons. 

On3’s Austin Brezina contributed to this report.