Former Raiders coach Jon Gruden files lawsuit against the NFL and Roger Goodell
Greg Mcfee The Raiders fired Jon Gruden after he filed a lawsuit against the league and commissioner Roger Goodell following his dismissal. The coach believes that NFL owners are conspiring to force him out of football in order to prevent other coaches from taking over their teams, which makes it difficult for them to compete with richer franchises like the Rams or Bears.
Jon Gruden is suing the NFL and Roger Goodell because he was fired from his position as coach of the Oakland Raiders. He also claims that the league violated his contract by not giving him a chance to resign.
On Friday, Jon Gruden, the head coach of the Las Vegas Raiders who quit last month after claims of inflammatory emails, filed a lawsuit against the NFL and its commissioner Roger Goodell.
Gruden accuses the NFL and Goodell of “Soviet-style character assassination” in the action, which was filed in Nevada’s Clark County District Court.
According to the complaint, “the NFL and Commissioner Roger Goodell intended to ruin the career and reputation of Jon Gruden, the former head coach of the Las Vegas Raiders, via a deliberate and organized effort.”
Gruden quit days after the New York Times revealed that while working as an NFL analyst and Monday Night Football commentator for ESPN from 2009 to 2017, he sent a series of inflammatory emails.
According to the New York Times, NFL authorities investigating charges of workplace misbehavior at the Washington Football Team — which did not include Gruden — discovered emails in which he disparaged women referees, homosexual NFL players, and players who protested during the national anthem.
Gruden also came under criticism when The Wall Street Journal published an email from 2011 in which he made critical statements about NFL Players Association President DeMaurice Smith.
Gruden claims that the NFL shielded the Washington Football Team and its owner, Daniel Snyder, by imposing “minimal” sanctions on the team, including a $10 million fine issued in July.
Instead of conducting a “real inquiry,” Gruden alleges the NFL and Goodell purposely released emails to the press.
“While Defendants protected Snyder and the Washington Football Team,” the complaint claims, “they handled Gruden much differently by selectively revealing records to maximize the injury to Gruden and to single him out.”
The NFL and Goodell allegedly urged the Raiders to fire Gruden after his emails were disclosed to the public, threatening to release more if they did not.
The complaint claims that “out of 650,000 emails received months earlier in connection with the Washington Football Team’s inquiry into workplace wrongdoing, Defendants selected a tiny percentage that were produced by Gruden prior to his hire by the Raiders.” “Defendants then used these emails to force Gruden’s coaching contract, endorsements, and sponsorships to be terminated.”
Gruden, according to the complaint, has incurred significant financial damages, including a $100 million, 10-year deal with the Raiders, as well as reputational harm that will “impact his future job chances and endorsement possibilities.”
“The accusations are totally meritless, and the NFL will fiercely fight against these claims,” the NFL said in a statement in response to the complaint.
Gruden took over as the Raiders’ head coach for the second time in 2018. From 2002 to 2008, he coached the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, guiding them to a Super Bowl victory in his first season, and the Oakland Raiders from 1998 to 2001.
Jordan Freiman contributed to the story as a reporter.
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Reardon, Sophie
Sophie Reardon is a CBS News News Editor. Sophie Reardon can be reached at sophie.reardon@viacomcbs.com.
The “jon gruden” is a former Raiders coach who filed a lawsuit against the NFL and Roger Goodell. The lawsuit alleges that Gruden was fired by the Raiders after he signed with ESPN, despite having an agreement to return to coaching for the 2018 season.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Jon Gruden suing the NFL for?
A: Gruden is suing the NFL for $100 million in damages and claims that he was unfairly forced to quit as an analyst on Monday Night Football after his contract expired.
How Much Is Jon Gruden suing the NFL for?
A: Jon Gruden is suing the NFL for $90 million in severance.
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